Teachers Gather at TSU to Take Teaching to the Next Level Through CASE

CASE Institute participants had the opportunity to experience hands-on training, such as soiling sampling. Nearly 50 teachers from around the country gathered at Tennessee State University to participate in two separate CASE Institutes, professional development workshops that provided teachers with training in specific agriculture courses aimed at fostering the best of what is known about student-centered, inquiry-based instruction. (Courtesy photo)

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (TSU News Service) – With the summer almost half over, Tennessee State University and the Curriculum for Agricultural Science Education (CASE), have ensured that more than 20 high school teachers will start this school year confident that it will be their best to date.

Throughout the month of June, nearly 50 teachers gathered from across the country to participate in the CASE Institute—a professional development workshop that provides teachers with training in specific courses—held at the College of Agriculture, Human and Natural Sciences’ new Ag Ed STEM Building on the campus farm in Nashville.

TSU hosted two institutes this summer the introductory level Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources Institute from June 1 through 11, and the higher level Advanced Plant Sciences Institute from June 15 through 25.

Once a teacher has successfully completed the 80 hours of intense professional development at the CASE Institutes, they are certified to teach the specific courses to their students in their home schools.

“This institute provides teachers with first-hand knowledge and experience with a curriculum that fosters the best of what is known about student-centered, inquiry-based instruction,” said Dr. John C. Ricketts, TSU’s Agricultural Education, Leadership and Extension program leader and associate professor. “This is an opportunity to make an effort to effectively integrate core academics and STEM into participants’ respective programs.”

The nine-day workshops have brought together teachers from all across the nation including Washington, New Jersey, Tennessee, Maryland, Missouri, West Virginia, Iowa, Ohio and Kentucky. TSU is the only Historically Black College and Universities (HBCU) serving as an Affiliate Institution for CASE.

“The CASE Institute is an excellent program for agricultural educators that has been found to lead to great student achievement in agricultural education for diverse audiences,” said Dr. Chandra Reddy, dean and director of Research/Administrator of Extension for the College. “We are excited to be able to offer this rigorous program, and honored to have been the institution of choice for those who attended.”

TSU played host to more than 50 teachers from across the country during the month of June for the CASE Institute workshops designed to provide teachers professional training in specific agriculture courses. TSU President, Dr. Glenda Glover (center) visited the second class that participated in the higher level Advanced Plant Sciences Institute from June 15 through 25. (courtesy photo)

Word about the program and its potential to positively impact educators and their students appears to be spreading. On the last full day of instruction, the TSU CASE Institute played host to the Tennessee Department of Education in the morning followed by a visit from TSU’s President, Dr. Glenda Glover. Additionally, due to its effectiveness, the Metro Nashville Public School system now requires its new hires in agricultural education to complete the program. Four MNPS agricultural educators have completed the program in the last two years.

For more information about CASE visit www.case4learning.org.

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