Residents are encouraged to share what they see as the top education issues affecting Illinois at the next WUIS/Illinois Issues Forum on Education September 27, 4:00 - 5:30 p.m. The forum will be in the WUIS Suggs Performance Studio on the UIS campus.
As part of the WUIS/Illinois Issues Education Initiative; residents, from parents and students to educators and leaders, are invited to discuss the state of education in Illinois. Education Desk reporter Dusty Rhodes will be listening to inform future reporting. The forum will be recorded and portions may be used for broadcast and publication.
Seating is limited and must be reserved. This WUIS/Illinois Issues Forum is free and open to the public.
What's being done across the country to strengthen our systems of education?
The forum culminates American Graduate Week. A series of education documentaries air daily at noon with rebroadcasts at 7:00 p.m. (see schedule following). These examine how communities can thrive in the 21st century, looking at research and what's being done across the country to strengthen our systems of education.
Monday, September 22
The Science of Smart
Until recently, we didn't know much about the best ways to learn. Now that's changing. Over recent decades, experts working in cognitive science, psychology, and neuroscience have opened new windows into how the brain works, and how we can learn to learn better. We look at some of the big ideas coming out of brain science. We meet the researchers who are unlocking the secrets of how the brain acquires and holds on to knowledge. And we introduce listeners to the teachers and students who are trying to apply that knowledge in the real world.
Tuesday, September 23
Greater Expectations: The Challenge of the Common Core
There's plenty of controversy surrounding the Common Core, a new set of education standards adopted by most states. Getting less attention is what the standards actually say, and the fact that many teachers like them. This documentary takes listeners into classrooms to explore how the standards are changing teaching and learning. Many teachers say those changes are desperately needed, but some are worried about new Common Core tests and whether they will help improve schools or get in the way of better education.
Wednesday, September 24
The New Face of College
The 21st Century college student is likely to be older than traditional students. She's more likely to be female, working, and Hispanic or African-American. She's more likely to be a mom. She's less likely to attend college full time or finish in four years. This documentary explores how universities are adapting to their new students. We visit Amherst College, a leader among elite schools in recruiting and serving non-traditional students. We see how the University of Texas-El Paso, where most undergraduates are Hispanic and low-income, is becoming a top-tier research university. And we travel to a tiny college on an Indian reservation in eastern Washington that is trying to bring liberal arts to migrant farm workers.
Thursday, September 25
Ready To Work: Reviving Vocational Ed
Vocational education was once a staple of American schooling, preparing some kids for blue-collar futures while others were put on a path to college. Today that kind of tracking smacks of classism. "College for all" is the new mantra. But not everyone wants to go to college, and nearly half of jobs don't require a bachelor's degree. Many experts say it's time to bring career and technical education back. This documentary explores how vocational education has changed and how it's re-shaping debates about the purpose of school.
