UNC to be part of Lenovo-funded Global Education Research Consortium
From UNC News Services
June 02, 2009 -- The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill will be part of a new Global Education Research program being created by Lenovo to analyze and measure the impact of technology on students’ educational experiences from first grade through higher education.
The global initiative features several education centers that will collaborate to spread the best practices in education around the globe and across all disciplines, in and out of the traditional classroom. The program was announced today (June 2) during Lenovo’s 12th annual Think Tank education conference, which runs through Wednesday (June 3) at UNC.
UNC’s contribution to the program will focus on higher education and be based at the Center for Faculty Excellence (CFE). Formerly called the Center for Teaching and Learning, the center has been in operation on the UNC campus since 1987 and was renamed last year to reflect its expanded faculty development mission. Lenovo will fund the CFE’s Global Education Research program activities through a $300,000 gift. Work will begin immediately on the creation and evaluation of new faculty development strategies necessary to support instructional innovation. Starting in September 2009, several grants will be awarded to UNC faculty to evaluate the efficacy of technology in teaching, learning and assessment.
“This collaboration with Lenovo allows us to advance the University’s commitment to instructional quality,” said Todd Zakrajsek, executive director of the Center for Faculty Excellence. “Improving student learning outcomes in higher education goes hand in hand with supporting instructors by providing them with the technologies and the tools they need.
“By mobilizing our talented faculty, we hope to contribute to an improved understanding about the efficacy of technology in teaching, learning and faculty development.”
Educational institutions have embraced using technology such as PCs, multimedia materials and interactive white boards in the classroom over the past decade to help students develop 21st century skills and to connect administrators and streamline district operations. The new Lenovo initiative aims to gain a complete view of the role and impact of technology in all aspects of the learning environment.
The research will benefit Lenovo’s existing and future education customers and programs and help outline clear actions and best practices for national, provincial and local governments to improve their use of technology in education.
Along with UNC’s Center for Faculty Excellence, the initial education centers participating in the program are:
- Student Global Leadership Institute at Punahou School, Honolulu, Hawaii, United States – Set to launch in July 2010, the Student Global Leadership Institute will bring together top high schools in the U.S. and China at Punahou School in Honolulu to foster a multinational community of youth leaders sustained by a robust framework for online learning. The Institute will promote leadership development in academics and in public service for secondary school students and teachers, and encourage international collaboration.
- Tiger Woods Learning Center, Anaheim, Calif., United States – Launched in February 2006, the Tiger Woods Learning Center is a one-of-a-kind life experience custom built for underserved youth. The Center is technology-rich, innovative and motivates students who are imaginative, engaged and planning their paths to college and a career. This after school campus, designed to inspire career exploration, serves members in grades five through twelve. Classes include forensic science, robotics, engineering, aerospace, video production and marine biology.
The Global Education Research program will conduct both quantitative and qualitative studies using an updated set of criteria defined by the consortium and that are relevant to the skills students must possess to be successful in today’s society. Each center will be led by members of the center as well as an esteemed body of academic advisers and Lenovo education practice experts.
Lenovo is developing the Global Education Research program in partnership with Microsoft and Intel. At the core of the Global Education Research program are Lenovo PCs, which have been in higher-education classrooms for many years. Lenovo works with more than 400 colleges, universities and schools on 1:1 deployments throughout the U.S. – including UNC.
Formed by Lenovo Group’s acquisition of the former IBM Personal Computing Division, the company develops, manufactures and markets technology products and services worldwide. Lenovo has major research centers in Yamato, Japan; Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen, China; and Raleigh, N.C.
Center for Faculty Excellence Web site: http://cfe.unc.edu/
Development Communications contact: Scott Ragland, (919) 962-0027, scott_ragland@unc.edu
