School of Education Partners with Legacy Christian
School of Education seeing results in collaborative clinical partnership with Xenia's Legacy Christian Academy
Cedarville University’s School of Education has launched a collaborative clinical partnership with Legacy Christian Academy in Xenia. The partnership, which began in January 2017, allows middle childhood education majors to immediately connect theory with practice in the classroom.
Middle childhood education majors will spend two days a week at Legacy Christian Academy, learning and teaching in the same space. In the morning, they will take their Cedarville University classes from their professors who will be onsite, and then spend the afternoon in the classroom to practice what they have learned.
Previously, education students would spend 10 weeks in class on campus learning about teaching, followed by five weeks in the classroom, but the new format allows them to learn theory while simultaneously experiencing it in class, rather than learning it in isolation.
“There’s not a delay from the time they are exposed to theory to when they actually implement it,” said Ruth Sylvester, Ph.D., associate professor of education. “It is so much more beneficial when they actually practice it and when they see someone teaching it.”
Education majors assist teachers by leading small groups, tutoring children who need help and even teaching.
In August, the school of education initiated a similar program with McKinley Elementary School for early childhood education majors in Xenia City Schools. The result have thus far been promising. Tom Sweigard, Ph.D., associate professor of education, said the partnership benefited both students and teachers because the early childhood education students were involved with classroom teaching the entire semester.
Located in southwest Ohio, Cedarville University is an accredited, Christ-centered, Baptist institution with an enrollment of 3,760 undergraduate, graduate and online students in more than 100 areas of study. Founded in 1887, Cedarville is recognized nationally for its authentic Christian community, rigorous academic programs, strong graduation and retention rates, accredited professional and health science offerings and leading student satisfaction ratings. For more information about the University, visit www.cedarville.edu.
Middle childhood education majors will spend two days a week at Legacy Christian Academy, learning and teaching in the same space. In the morning, they will take their Cedarville University classes from their professors who will be onsite, and then spend the afternoon in the classroom to practice what they have learned.
Previously, education students would spend 10 weeks in class on campus learning about teaching, followed by five weeks in the classroom, but the new format allows them to learn theory while simultaneously experiencing it in class, rather than learning it in isolation.
“There’s not a delay from the time they are exposed to theory to when they actually implement it,” said Ruth Sylvester, Ph.D., associate professor of education. “It is so much more beneficial when they actually practice it and when they see someone teaching it.”
Education majors assist teachers by leading small groups, tutoring children who need help and even teaching.
In August, the school of education initiated a similar program with McKinley Elementary School for early childhood education majors in Xenia City Schools. The result have thus far been promising. Tom Sweigard, Ph.D., associate professor of education, said the partnership benefited both students and teachers because the early childhood education students were involved with classroom teaching the entire semester.
Located in southwest Ohio, Cedarville University is an accredited, Christ-centered, Baptist institution with an enrollment of 3,760 undergraduate, graduate and online students in more than 100 areas of study. Founded in 1887, Cedarville is recognized nationally for its authentic Christian community, rigorous academic programs, strong graduation and retention rates, accredited professional and health science offerings and leading student satisfaction ratings. For more information about the University, visit www.cedarville.edu.