Teachers College, Columbia University Partners with Teach Away to Offer Online Digital Literacy Training for K-8 Teachers Across the US

It is more important than ever for teachers and schools to prepare students to navigate an increasingly digital world. To address the growing need among educators nationwide for practical, teacher-centered digital literacy training, Teachers College, Columbia University today announced it has created an online professional development course for teachers: Digital Learning for the K-8 Classroom, in partnership with award-winning educator, Detra Price-Dennis, and leading education professional development and recruitment platform, Teach Away.

"Teachers College, Columbia University knows how essential it is for 21st century teachers to understand how to grow learners and learning for the digital world we live in. We're excited to offer Digital Learning for the K-8 Classroom, in conjunction with Teach Away, to continue this important effort," said Steven Goss, Vice Provost for Digital Learning at Teachers College, Columbia University.

The education landscape for K-8 teachers and students has grown more and more digital and tech-centric. This poses a challenge for teachers, who can feel inadequately prepared when it comes to deciding which digital technologies and tools to use in the classroom - as well as how and when - that will most benefit student learning.

"We're thrilled to have partnered with the top-ranked Teachers College, Columbia University, an institution known worldwide for the highest quality preparation in the field of education, to develop Digital Learning for the K-8 Classroom," stated Rene Frey, Teach Away’s Co-founder and President.

"Through this joint effort, we're excited to play our part in helping teachers get comfortable with the quickly evolving area of digital literacy. By taking this course, teachers will discover practical strategies around developing their students’ digital literacies and setting them up for future success in the global digital community."

The course content was conceived and developed by Dr. Detra Price-Dennis, recent recipient of the American Educational Research Association’s Division K Early Career Award for her research record and contribution to the field of teaching and teacher education.

As Dr. Price-Dennis explains, "Teacher education programs are struggling to figure out how to prepare teachers for the digital age. Every day, new education technology is being introduced to the market to support teachers as they explore digital learning in their classrooms. This course provides a foundation for teachers that connects theory and practice to cultivate their understanding of digital pedagogy and support their development of digital literacy skills."

The self-paced, online course is currently open for enrollment at a cost of $595, offering three Continuing Education Units (CEUs). Digital Learning for the K-8 Classroom is part of an ongoing series of online professional development training delivered by Teach Away, focusing on delivering learning opportunities, directly relevant to a teacher’s practice, that respond to critical needs in the classroom. Additional Teach Away course offerings will be forthcoming in 2017.

About Teachers College, Columbia University

Founded in 1887, Teachers College, Columbia University, is the first and largest graduate school of education in the United States and is perennially ranked among the nation’s best. Through its three main areas of expertise - education, health and psychology - the College is committed to disciplinary and interdisciplinary research, the preparation of dedicated public service professionals, engagement with local, national and global communities, and informing public policy to create a smarter, healthier, and more equitable and peaceful world. TC today has more than 5,000 students, more than 20 percent of whom come from outside the US, representing 84 different countries. Among students who are U.S. citizens, 45 percent identify as non-Caucasian. There are 171 full-time faculty members at the College. TC’s funded research expenditures in 2015-2016 totaled more than $60 million.

About Teach Away

Teach Away is a careers and professional development platform for education professionals. Teach Away is committed to ensuring students are learning from the best educators worldwide, and aims to achieve this through commitment to quality hiring and world-class teacher development. Teach Away envisions a world where every student experiences the power of a great teacher - allowing them to reach their full potential.