The Dr. Jo Watts Williams School of Education and North Carolina-based Participate Learning want to help teachers strengthen cross-cultural classroom instruction while pursuing CEUs that can help with renewing their licenses.
School teachers who complete online professional development courses through a nationally renowned global education company will soon receive Continuing Education Units from Elon University.
A new initiative between the Dr. Jo Watts Williams School of Education and Participate Learning, a North Carolina organization that has partnered with schools and districts to develop language proficiency and cultural competency, builds on existing partnerships between the two institutions.
The Dr. Jo Watts Williams School of Education will offer CEUs, complete with the dean’s signature, for those who finish online learning modules offered by Participate Learning.
The arrangement provides educators with opportunities for advancing their professional development while earning CEUs that often can be used toward renewing teacher licenses.
“This collaboration is more than a bridge between theory and practice,” said Ann Bullock, dean of the Jo Watts Williams School of Education. “It is a dynamic conduit for innovation and professional growth. By aligning the curriculum from Elon’s Master of Education in Innovation program with Participate Learning’s respected badge system, we are enhancing the value and reach of both offerings.”
Jake Henry, chief academic officer at Participate Learning, said the agreement exemplifies a commitment to advancing education while also fostering global competencies and 21st-century skills among educators. “Our collaborative efforts will significantly enrich the learning experiences and professional trajectories of those we serve,” he said.
- For more information about the partnership or to learn more about the badge programs and the Master of Education in Innovation, contact Dean Ann Bullock (abullock9@elon.edu).
- For more information about Participate Learning’s professional development courses and program offerings, contact Monica Cougan, senior director of Account Management and Partnerships (monica.cougan@participatelearning.com).
About Participate Learning
Participate Learning, formerly known as Visiting International Faculty and later VIF International Education, is dedicated to equipping teachers and students with the tools and skills necessary for thriving in an interconnected world. Focused on fostering global competencies and sustainable practices, Participate Learning offers a range of programs aimed at developing global citizens through education.
About Elon University and the Dr. Jo Watts Williams School of Education
Elon University is a nationally recognized leader in engaged, experiential learning that prepares graduates to be creative, resilient, ambitious and ethical citizens of our global culture. At Elon, more than 7,000 students learn through hands-on experiences and close working relationships with faculty and staff. More than 70 undergraduate majors are complemented by professional and graduate programs in law, business administration, business analytics, accounting, education, higher education, physician assistant studies and physical therapy.
The Dr. Jo Watts Williams School of Education at Elon University is a national authority on the preparation of equity-minded leaders in the fields of education, physical activity and wellness who enhance the learning and lives of children and adults. Accomplished teacher-scholars with decades of collective professional experience instruct nearly 300 undergraduates majoring in early childhood education, elementary education, middle grades education, outdoor leadership & education, physical education & health, science education, or special education. The school also offers programs for earning a Master of Education or Master of Arts in Higher Education.
Named for a distinguished Elon University alumna and former public school teacher, the Dr. Jo Watts Williams School of Education hosts the Elon Teaching Fellows Program, a model for the preparation of teaching leaders and scholars who contribute significantly to the quality of birth-12 education and who are influential in decision-making on the local, state, national and international levels.
Initial licensure programs in the Dr. Jo Watts Williams School of Education are accredited under the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation.