Athens, Ga. – A University of Georgia professor of workforce education is piloting a workshop this summer that focuses on improving the math and technology skills of Georgia educators who teach students from special populations.
Twenty middle school and secondary educators who work with students with disabilities will participate in the Mathematics and Technology Happen (M.A.T.H.) Today Workshop, June 5-9 at the College of Education’s River’s Crossing building on College Station Road.
“M.A.T.H. Today integrates math concepts with a technology based program, KeyTrain, to strengthen content knowledge of school teams consisting of math teachers, coordinated vocational academic education and related vocational instruction coordinators,” said Karen Jones, a professor in the Department of Workforce Education, Leadership and Social Foundations, who is directing the workshop.
Jones’ hope is that the workshop will help students with disabilities and academically challenged students who are at risk for failing or dropping out of school to learn math skills needed in today’s job market.
“This workshop will help prepare students with special needs for graduation and the world of work,” said Jones.
The workshop is partially funded by a Title II Teacher Quality Enhancement Grant.
Jones has spent most of her 19-year career as a UGA faculty member studying teacher education, teacher effectiveness, use and effectiveness of paraprofessionals in career and technical educational settings for students who have special needs. Much of her scholarly activities have been interdisciplinary, combining efforts from vocational education and special education.
She helped write numerous guides and handbooks that are used by special needs coordinators throughout the state, including The Georgia Intervention Guide, a handbook for vocational academic coordinators to use with students who are at risk for failing or dropping out of school, first published for the Georgia Department of Education in 1997 and revised in 2004. She was named the National Outstanding Career and Technical Educator for 2005 by the Association for Career and Technical Education.
Jones received her Ed.D. in vocational education from UGA. She taught family and consumer sciences at Groves High School in Savannah for seven years.
Registration for the M.A.T.H. Today workshop is on a first-come, first-serve basis. For more information, contact Sheila Hudson at 706/542-0258 or sheilah@uga.edu.
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