Volume 46 Number 1
One of 12 CTA Institute for Teaching awards made
CCA members exploring new ways to deliver instruction to their students might be interested in applying for several mini-grants available through CTA’s Institute for Teaching, (IFT) a nonprofit dedicated to fostering meaningful learning in the classroom.
That’s what Douglas Redman, an automotive instructor at College of the Desert did.
Redman and Julius Varga, an adjunct instructor in the automotive department together obtained a $5,000 grant from the IFT that will be used build a front end clip of a late model vehicle that will allow students hands-on training in car repair.
Hands-on learning
The front end clip is essentially a car “minus the parts that get in the way” that will allow automotive students access to major systems. The first class to use it will actually build the assembly which will then be used in future classes. Purchasing an “off the shelf” front end clip might have cost four times as much and would not have given the students the hands-on building experience this one will, according to Redman.
“It’s great that our CCA chapters can be part of this grant program,” said CCA President Ron Norton Reel. “I certainly hope more of our members will consider submitting their innovative program ideas to the next round of IFT grants.”
Redman and Varga submitted an application that provided a plan of action and timeline and details on how it was going to address and meet the student needs. The training module will be used in up to 10 of the 21 courses offered in the department.
“We’re really pretty excited about it,” said Redman, who learned of the grant through a notice sent out by Chuck Decker, the faculty association president.
Teacher-driven reform
The CTA Institute for Teaching Mini Grants are intended for CTA educators and chapters to support strength-based, teacher-driven reform for students. Grants to individuals are available in the amount up to $5,000, while a chapter may apply for grants of up to $20,000. In this inaugural year of the grants, the selection committee made 12 awards for the 2010-2011 school year.
“The selection committee was pleased to be able to make a grant to a community college chapter,” said Dick Gale, director of the Institute for Teaching. “Hopefully, more community college members will apply next year.”
For more information on the grant program and on IFT, check out
www.teacherdrivenchange.org
.