Arts and Sciences Connection

The Teacher Quality Collaborative (TQC) continues to expand opportunities for the College of Education faculty and the Arts and Science faculty to improve K-12 teacher content knowledge. The TQC has explored collaborative efforts to improve teacher quality.

• Sponsored graduate courses are team taught by K-12 teachers and faculty from the USC English Department.

English 650 looked at various genre and style. Francie Markham, Greg Forter, Kwame Dawes and Edward Gieskes joined ScottGwara in presenting an innovative, graduate course for students of literature.

Click here to view images of English 650 with Francie Markham, Greg Forter, Kwame Dawes, Edward Gieskes and Scott Gwara


• Engaging Arts and Sciences faculty and doctoral students as content specialist for K-12 inquiry projects. Faculty worked with interns, coaching teachers and children on special projects in such areas as history, biology and creative writing.

At Crayton Middle School, science consultant Kim Schneider collaborates with teachers and five doctoral students in the biological sciences creating a "Science Day". Lesson plans were developed that included a variety of instructional methods including text, hands-on experience and the use of the scientific method. Researchers visited classrooms and discussed the scientific method and how it is used in science as well as in everyday life.

Click here to see images from "Science Day" at Crayton Middle School

Click on the links below to download "Science Day" PDF documentation:

Science Day Schedule
Science Day Outline
Science Problem Format
Science Day Teacher Comments

• The College of Education, K-12 teachers and Arts and Sciences faculty present at National Conferences.
• Involving the Arts and Sciences faculty in professional development school training sessions as consultant and as program evaluators.
• Inviting Arts and Science faculty to participate in"Rounds" to help pre-service students focus on aspect of how content and pedagogy merge.

Click here to see images from Arts and Sciences Collaboration with Mrs. Schneider and Ms. Dowling

Click here to view Arts and Sciences Collaboration with Mrs. Erving and Ms. Beseres. This is also a current Inquiry Project at Hyatt Park Elementary School.

Click on the links below to view Arts and Sciences Collaboration related PDF documentation:

7th Grade Lesson Plan
Inquiry Research Strategies
Rubric for Lab Write
School Yard Micro
USC Discovery Fair Winners

• Approaches to Learning in the Middle Grades
  Instructor: Dr. Laura Kent
  Designer: Virginia Lacy, Principal

Click here for the daily schedule and images from EDUC R634A.