TC Library to Lead New Innovation Initiative
TC's Gottesman Libraries and its EdLab division will lead a new initiative to facilitate faculty work that explores new approaches to teaching, research and service in education, psychology and health. As part of the new effort, two TC operating units -- the Center for Educational Outreach & Innovation, which deals with continuing education, and Teachers College Innovations, which runs induction programs for new teachers -- are being closed in the restructuring and will cease to operate as free-standing entities under those names.
Teachers College announced today a renewed and enhanced commitment to supporting innovation by facilitating faculty work that explores new approaches to teaching, research and service in the College’s three main areas of education, psychology and health.
The initiative will be spearheaded by the College’s Gottesman Libraries, under the direction of Professor Gary Natriello, and its EdLab division, a creative services and information networking group that brings together faculty, students, alumni, and trustees to leverage the creative talents of the entire Teachers College community.
As part of the new effort, two operating units of the College -- the Center for Educational Outreach & Innovation (CEO&I), which deals with continuing education, and Teachers College Innovations (TCI), which runs induction programs for new teachers – are being closed in the restructuring and will cease to operate as free-standing entities under those names.
“At a time when both the education sector and the nation in general are facing new challenges as a result of growing economic pressures, it is more important than ever to make sure that the latest thinking of the Teachers College faculty reaches educators and educational leaders,” said Teachers College President Susan Fuhrman in announcing the new initiative at a full faculty meeting on March 5th.
Detailing the new commitment, Provost Thomas James explained that the new organizational arrangement will “promote closer alignment of all academic activities of the College, both those focused on degree students and those involving special programs, workshops, and conferences.”
Professor Natriello invited his faculty colleagues to join “the broader conversation and planning activities that will develop a new vision for innovation at Teachers College and beyond.” He promised that his team will continue and expand the EdLab model, sparking the development of a new generation of innovative educational experiences and materials.
To learn more about the Gottesman libraries, visit http://library.tc.columbia.edu/ . To learn more about EdLab, visit http://edlab.tc.columbia.edu/ .
Published Monday, Mar. 9, 2009
