Partner Feature - Catholic University of America

Professor Otto Wilson (far right) of the Catholic University of America engages in a professional development seminar with K-12 science teachers, facilitated by Center for Inspired Teaching.

November 7, 2016

Starting in school year 2016-2017, Center for Inspired Teaching is working in partnership with the Catholic University of America (CUA) and public charter schools in the District of Columbia via the Mathematics and Science Partnership (MSP) program. The US Department of Education designed this highly competitive grant program, which offers “intensive, content-rich professional development to teachers and other educators, with the goal of improving classroom instruction and, ultimately, student achievement in math and science.” Our project builds off the successes of SCALE, which Inspired Teaching ran in partnership with DC Public Schools in order to improve instruction district-wide.

Our partnership leverages the unique strengths of Inspired Teaching and the Catholic University of America, as we work closely with educators in high-needs schools. Inspired Teaching’s professional development engages teachers in the same way they, in turn, will engage their students: building their capacity for critical thinking, problem-solving, collaboration, and self-reflection. Teachers’ efforts to shift their classroom practice are further strengthened by a deep connection to research and theory. They draw on the expertise of CUA Professors Otto Wilson, John Philips, and Angela McRae, who specialize, respectively, in biomedical engineering, physics, and education.

Together, these professors have developed a professional development design project called PIQUED Curiosity. Their work is highly aligned with Center for Inspired Teaching’s inquiry-based approach to professional development, which is 100% engaging – intellectually, emotionally, and physically. Professor Otto Wilson explains, “This MSP grant collaboration will help us to make a wonderful contribution to developing three-dimensional professional development to accompany the three-dimensional learning that is at the heart of the Next Generation Science Standards.”

We are proud to partner with the Catholic University of America. The goals of the institution, through teaching and scholarship, are “to discover, preserve, and impart the truth in all its forms in an environment of academic freedom and inquiry.” They serve the broader DC community by translating their scholarly expertise into concrete resources, including those that meet the needs of K-12 STEM education in local schools.

The need for powerful K-12 STEM education is great. To be prepared for the jobs of the 21^st century, students must grapple with STEM concepts as scientists and engineers do. They must engage in authentic experimentation and research. Through our partnership with the Catholic University of America, we are excited to transform instruction across the district, now and in the future. Professor Wilson expressed, “We would like to continue to partner with Center for Inspired Teaching in developing a DC-based, high-performance team that will work together to achieve great things in inspiring our teachers and students in the DC region to higher levels of achievement in STEM education.”

A website for Propagating Inspiring Questions to Uncover Excellence in Education by Design (PIQUED) Curiosity is in development. Until then, explore the website of the Catholic University of America and follow news from the CUA School of Engineering and School of Arts and Sciences to learn about their innovative collaboration. To learn more about Inspired Teaching’s science work, explore our website and watch a video profile of SCALE: Science Curriculum Advancement through Literacy Enhancement.

Micaiah Anderson

Community Outreach Specialist

As a Community Outreach Specialist, Micaiah is responsible for program promotion and outreach support for Inspired Teaching events and workshops. Micaiah has a passion for collaborating with community members to build-power and connect. She is an educator with a heart for youth and has experience supporting students fight injustices within their schools and communities. She has a BA in Political Science from, the real HU, Hampton University & anticipates graduating in May 2024 with a Masters of Arts degree in Educational Policy Transformation from Georgetown University.

AUTONOMY

"I want to have a say in what happens to me."

Autonomy is the need for independence; the ability to make choices, to create, to explore, and to express oneself freely; to have sufficient space, to move around, and to feel unrestricted with opportunities to exercise free will.

Brady Maiden

Outreach Coordinator

As the Outreach Coordinator, Brady helps maintain Inspired Teaching’s social media presence and supports the organization’s mission to connect with DC community leaders, educators, and parents. Brady has her Master’s in Public Policy from George Mason University and her BS in Political Science from Northern Arizona University. She is passionate about community, equity, and coalition building recognizing that learning and growing with the community at large is how we continue to be impactful.

What brings you joy in life?

I find joy in spending time with my friends and family and meeting new people. I like going to concerts and festivals, and finding new books to read.

The Learner’s Cycle, Wonder-Experiment-Learn, and the Teacher’s Cycle, Observe-Plan-Instigate, comprise Inspired Teaching’s approach to engaging students in inquiry-based learning.

When they are engaged in the Wonder-Experiment-Learn Cycle, students are immersed in learning. They take the lead in designing authentic learning experiences around their own interests and their school’s standards of learning. Each discovery leads to a new question which in turn leads to more wondering and more learning. In the Wonder-Experiment-Learn Cycle, Learn is not a destination or an endpoint; it is a deeper understanding, leading to a deeper wondering and new possibilities that create new entry points to further exploration. The cycle continues because what students have learned generates more wonderings that require more experiments that foster more learning – and on and on.

The Observe-Plan-Instigate Cycle is the work of an Inspired Teacher. While a student is expected to follow the Wonder-Experiment-Learn Cycle, the teacher joins them on the learning journey while following their own cycle of Observe-Plan-Instigate. This cycle ultimately serves to ensure an inquiry-based atmosphere is at play in the classroom.

Jaqueta Abbey

Teaching and Learning Specialist

Jaqueta is the Teaching and Learning Specialist for Inspired Teaching. In addition to her current role with Inspired Teaching, Jaqueta is a first-grade teaching assistant. Her background features a variety of traditional and non-traditional experiences in the field of education, including working as an adjunct professor, teaching summer reading programs to children and adults, and tutoring children in the foster care system. Jaqueta earned a B.A. in Communication Studies from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and an M.A. in Interactive Media from Elon University.

What brings you joy in life?

Creative self-expression! In addition to my passion for storytelling, I love dancing of all kinds. I've studied belly dance, bachata, and Brazilian Zouk among other styles. I also enjoy glass fusing, crocheting, photography, and cross stitching. These art forms allow me to express myself and build connections with other people at the same time. I think life would be a lot less vibrant without artists and storytellers!

Michelle Welk

Communication & Marketing Specialist

As Communications and Marketing Specialist, Michelle is responsible for finding and creating new ways to highlight Inspired Teaching and promote its programs in order to expand and deepen the organization's impact. Michelle has worked in communications in an array of settings, from creative agencies to state politics to national nonprofits. She has a BA in Journalism from Temple University in Philadelphia and is passionate about education, access, and equity.

What brings you joy in life?

My son, the beach, making a persuasive argument and good food!

Max Peterson

Real World History Assistant Teacher

Max received his Bachelor’s degree in History and African American Studies from Boston University in May 2016. He has worked in museum curation at the Museum of the White Mountains in New Hampshire and the Smithsonian National Museum of American History. Max has worked with young people of varying ages from young children to young adults transitioning to college.

Feedback and Accountability

We grow through feedback and an understanding that the quality of our work is a reflection of what we are learning, but the shift to remote learning this spring disrupted a lot of the tools teachers were used to using to evaluate student growth. How might we do things differently this fall? Participants in this workshop will explore ways to bring meaningful assessment into the virtual and/or socially-distanced classroom and approaches to student feedback that strengthen motivation, and build relationships and achievement.