Newsletter Volume 2	Fall 1997

Dynamic Learning

J.D. Mildrew
Math/Physics
South Mountain Community College

South Mountain Community College (SMCC) and the College of Education at Arizona State University (ASU) have collaborated to develop a two-step Bachelor's Degree program for future teachers called the Dynamic Learning Teacher Education Program. The goal of the new program is to provide 1) a seamless transition for pre-service students from the community college to the four-year institution, and 2) personal mentoring for individual students to assure their eventual success as K-12 teachers. Students complete the two-year program at SMCC and then transfer into the Professional Teacher Preparation Program in the College of Education at ASU. This unique support program for students studying to become K-12 teachers offers:

• A structured academic professional program
• Quality instruction and curriculum
• Latest computer technology, research through the Internet
• Internships in area schools
• Intensive advising and interaction with faculty and professional staff at SMCC and ASU
• Scholarship funds
• Ease of course transfer to the ASU College of Education with special consideration in enrolling into the ASU Professional Teacher Preparation Program.

The four-semester, Dynamic Learning Program is designed to provide the necessary general studies courses, internship, and classroom experience to prepare SMCC students for admission into ASU's Professional Teacher Preparation program.

As part of the ACEPT program SMCC has taken the lead in reforming the introductory physics and mathematics courses taken by pre-service elementary teachers. SMCC faculty have also led Workshops in teaching reformed physics and mathematics courses utilizing hand-held and computer technology over the past several years. This fall ASU science and mathematics faculty from the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences have joined the partnership between SMCC and the ASU College of Education in articulating and incorporating the reformed physics and mathematics courses into the Dynamic Learning Program. This new partnership is one of the outcomes of the 1997 ACEPT Physics-Math Workshop. Our intent is to involve all science and mathematics faculty who have initiated ACEPT reforms at ASU in the SMCC-ASU Dynamics Learning Program. The Dynamic Learning Program serves as a national model for community college and four-year institution collaboration.

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