Areas of Excellence and Resources

Areas of Excellence

• The College of Education is a national leader in technology. Its history of embracing technology to empower learning stems from such practical inventions as the first automated scoring machine to the recent advancements infusing multimedia into the teacher-training program with the Iowa ePortfolio project.
• The challenge of improving teaching and learning research beyond the classroom. College of Education faculty’s service and research has given the College an international reputation of excellence. This reputation can be seen in field as diverse as rehabilitation counseling, testing and measurement, and teacher education. Other areas of recognition include the College’s graduate programs, which are consistently ranked among the top tier by U.S.News & World Report.
• The College of Education is home to the Iowa Testing Programs, an international leader in the field of educational testing and measurement. The Iowa Tests of Basic Skills and the Iowa Tests of Educational Development, both developed by Iowa Testing Programs, are widely used throughout the United States and Canada. Faculty working in the program continue to explore ways to improve and enhance testing as a measurement of educational achievement. Iowa City has become the site of a thriving testing industry thanks to the contributions, research, and expertise of Iowa Testing Programs personnel and the College.
• The College is a national and international leader in several other areas of education. The Connie Belin & Jacqueline N. Blank International Center for Gifted Education and Talent Development, founded in 1988, is dedicated to research and service in gifted education. This Center trains teachers to work with gifted students in their classrooms or to become Advanced Placement teachers. Weekend and summer workshops provide an enriched curriculum for the state's gifted students.
• The College's mathematics and science programs have received national recognition for classroom material development and innovative instructional delivery methods.
• On an international level, the College’s work with educational systems in Eastern and Central Europe, Indonesia, and East Timor in training social studies teachers and the development of a democratically focused civics curriculum is recognized for excellence. The College is also continuing its long tradition of providing staff development for Korean science endeavors.
• In the College's most recent review by the Iowa Department of Education, special recognition was given to its technical accomplishments and the technical resources and services available to faculty, staff, and students. The College has paid special attention to and received recognition in the area of assistive technologies for learners with disabilities.

Resources

• The College is a resource for teachers, administrators, and communities throughout the state. Faculty in the Language, Literacy, and Culture Program work collaboratively with K-12 teachers. Through the Reading Recovery Center of Iowa, educators are trained to teach disadvantaged readers. Faculty assist school districts with curriculum development, provide consultation and counseling services, and administer workshops for professional development and continuing education.
• The College and its faculty have formed a number of partnerships with community school districts throughout the state to create and investigate new methods of learning and teaching. In addition, many faculty members work collaboratively with colleagues from other universities on federally funded research projects exploring cutting-edge pedagogical techniques.
• The Educational Technology Center provides assistance in the preparation, production, and presentation of instructional materials. Its staff emphasize integration of the latest computer technologies, such as digital presentations and web development.