In This Issue

A publication for College of Education alumni Sharon Ponder (MEd ’17) interrupted work on her degree to teach children in New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina. Spring 2018 IN THIS ISSUE 4-5| Micro-credentialing 6-7| Catholic connections 10| National winner Dean’s corner | ACTION IN EDUCATION Degree, interrupted | ACTION IN EDUCATION DEAN’S DEGREE, INTERRUPTED CORNER The COE helps It is no secret that when one thinks of DePaul University, the notion of “mission” comes prominently to mind. Long known for helping Chicagoans achieve social justice, DePaul’s Vincentianism means serving those most in need, and, frankly, alumna finish what nobody does it better than DePaul’s College of Education (COE). Our response to the Vincentian question, “What must be done?,” permeates the work we do in life disrupted the classroom and in the community at large to educate and counsel students and elevate the underserved. “I tell my students that when you can Through our centers, initiatives and specialized programs, our dedicated faculty have continuity with your education, take and staff address needs in the community and in the field of education. The Facing advantage of it, because when you get History and Ourselves collaboration inspires educators and the public to address older, life just happens. It happened to ACTION complex social issues in the classroom. The Stockyard Institute engages youth, me,” says Sharon Ponder, proud holder IN EDUCATION community residents and artists through an open interchange of projects and of a newly minted Master of Education in programs in the arts and social activism. The Education and Counseling Center Teaching and Learning. She was just one provides quality, affordable educational and counseling services to children and course short of finishing her degree years We welcome your story ideas, adolescents. questions and comments. Please ago when life happened: first the illness Under the leadership of Sister Mary Paul McCaughey, O.P., the college’s Catholic and death of her mother, followed by contact Kris Gallagher at (312) 362- Evans Photo by Tom Schools Faith Project provides scholarships to Chicago’s Catholic school teachers 8365 or [email protected]. Ponder’s decision to take a leave from the so they may pursue advanced degrees. In partnership with the Fraternal Order Chicago Public Schools (CPS) and teach a week. Returning to DePaul to finish her “Instead of that social studies class you of Police, the college instructs members of the Chicago Police Department in in New Orleans for six years following coursework meant she needed to find an didn’t take, you might benefit more from Office of Alumni Relations educational leadership, directly affecting police officers and the communities they Hurricane Katrina. evening class. learning how to use data for instruction or alumni.depaul.edu serve. In collaboration with the Academy for Urban School Leadership (AUSL), we a curriculum class,” she says. [email protected] instruct AUSL learners in the DePaul curriculum using the organization’s targeted Her experiences in New Orleans convinced “Every teacher can always learn more (800) 437-1898 methods, as well as connecting students with co-teaching mentors in AUSL/ Ponder that she needed to return to about children’s literature, so I brought Ponder couldn’t be more pleased with the Chicago Public Schools. Our fruitful partnership with Bernhard Moos Elementary Chicago and teach African-American her into my class,” says Owens. Because support she got from the COE: “It speaks School allows our students to immerse themselves in an elementary school College of Education students in a community similar to the Ponder shared her extensive experience volumes to the type of institution that environment during field experiences, while our faculty provide in-service teachers education.depaul.edu one where she grew up. Based on the with the underclassmen in the course, DePaul is that they would consider my with professional development. [email protected] experiences of her eight brothers and which meets both undergraduate and case, evaluate it and say, ‘She’s worthy of Our Office of Innovative Professional Learning is working with the Barat Foundation sisters, she knew that higher education was graduate requirements, the class was a rich finishing.’ I can’t say enough about how Office of Advancement on Our American Voice, a program that provides professional development and the key to her family’s success. But could experience for everyone. grateful I am.” Owens says, “Sharon is the [email protected] micro-credentialing. The Institute for Daisaku Ikeda Studies in Education researches she return to the College of Education to kind of person that you are proud to see as the philosophies and practices of renowned Japanese educators Ikeda, Toda Ponder says her delayed finish was a (312) 362-8666 finish her degree? a DePaul graduate.” and Makiguchi and provides workshops and symposia to students. To address blessing. “I had an opportunity to mesh Editor the need for science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education for Absolutely, says Roxanne Owens, chair with younger ideas and take a fresh If you know people interested in returning Kris Gallagher underrepresented young women, our faculty conduct Inspiring STEM in Girls of the Department of Teacher Education. approach to teaching and to education. I to the COE to complete their degree, (inSTEM), a summer experience for middle-school girls. The college assesses returning students on got to look at education practices through please ask them to contact Nancy a case-by-case basis and readmits them the eyes of millennials.” Hashimoto, director of advising, at Designer I am proud that the college serves as a tangible example of the success that is possible when small groups of dedicated individuals come together. With social whenever possible. It was an easy decision [email protected]. Vimal Kachhia Owens says returning students often take justice at the heart of our mission, our students, faculty and staff collaborate to to readmit Ponder, who taught steadily classes that better serve their current needs. bring forth incredible outcomes through their perseverance and activism. I look throughout her absence, is nationally forward to seeing more results from our continued work together. board-certified, and is a Yale National Stay connected to DePaul through our online communities, including Facebook, LinkedIn, Teacher Fellow, a Fulbright Scholar and a “I tell my students that when you can have Twitter, Instagram, Flickr and YouTube. Golden Apple finalist. Visit alumni.depaul.edu to sign up today. Ponder, a fourth-grade teacher at Carter continuity with your education, take advantage G. Woodson Elementary School in Chicago’s of it, because when you get older, life just Bronzeville neighborhood, works more than Dean Paul Zionts full time—she’s at the school seven days happens. It happened to me.” 2 | | 3 Micro-credentialing | ACTION IN EDUCATION Micro-credentialing | ACTION IN EDUCATION A CONSTELLATION OF CREDENTIALS Here are some of the micro- credentials available. CUSTOMIZED • Assessment Expert • Global Educator MICRO-CREDENTIALS FILL EDUCATIONAL NICHE • Value-Creating Education for Global Citizenship rowing out of a successful pilot begun nearly two years ago, the COE’s micro- • Innovative Educator credentialing program is expanding • Innovative Leadership G into new skill sets, delivery mechanisms • Mindful Leadership and audiences, says Donna Kiel, director of the Office of Innovative Professional Learning (OIPL). • STEM Expert Micro-credentials are short-term, competency-based • Transformational Teaching educational programs that enable learners to document their knowledge and skills and have those verified by subject-matter experts. Allen Turner (left), a professional lecturer in DePaul’s College of Computing and Digital Media, The U.S. Army created the term “micro-credential” introduces educators to new techniques. to describe its program to verify for employers that veterans had defined, concrete skill sets, such as the THE POWER OF DEPAUL The coursework is self-paced. While many participants take a ability to fly planes, Kiel says. OIPL adopted the model quarter or a semester to complete a micro-credential, others have for its International Baccalaureate educator certificate The college currently offers more than a dozen micro-credentials, powered through a program in a week or two. program. Once that was firmly in place, Kiel began and new ones are being added all the time. Kiel’s collaboration expanding the topics offered to meet the needs of with Doris Rusch, an associate professor in DePaul’s College of Finally, micro-credentials are “stackable.” Participants can educators, leaders and other professionals who want Computing and Digital Media and a nationally recognized game earn three or four micro-credentials in a specific area and gain to enhance their professional skills. expert, resulted in an innovative micro-credential in game-design certification as a “master” in that arena. thinking for teachers. “We start with what you already know and what you Upon completing the micro-credential, participants receive an Donna Kiel, director of the Office of Innovative Professional Learning, discusses transformative teaching with micro-credential students. need for professional success,” Kiel says. “Next, we “The power of DePaul is that if there’s a need for a skill that we electronic badge that they can add to their email signature, Photos by

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