The UCA College of Education was recently selected to renew its Apple Distinguished Schools status for three years, from 2024 to 2027.
The College of Education was first selected as an Apple Distinguished School in 2018 and has since continued to earn this notable designation for a commitment to technology-infused, innovative teaching and learning practices. Per the Apple website, “Apple Distinguished Schools are some of the most innovative schools in the world. They’re centers of leadership and educational excellence that demonstrate a vision of exemplary learning environments. They use Apple products to inspire student creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking… and cultivate environments in which students are excited about learning, curiosity is fostered, and learning is a personal experience.”
The UCA College of Education’s achievement is truly unique. As only the third Apple Distinguished School in Arkansas and the only college of education in the state to earn this prestigious designation, we are honored to be included in this global community of around 400 K-12 and higher education institutions.
Dr. Victoria Groves-Scott, Dean of the College of Education, shared, “The College of Education launched the Apple 1:1 Mobile Initiative in 2016. The catalyst for the initiative was to create a teaching environment within the college that supported and encouraged engagement. We set out to enhance the instructors’ engagement with students, student to student engagement, student engagement with technology, and engagement with authentic content. Our goal was – and remains – to train every teacher to use technology to increase student voice, choice, access, and achievement. Technology is just one tool or medium for good teaching pedagogy. As our College’s work with educational technology has evolved over the last decade, we have built capacity within our infrastructure and continually facilitated the growth of our technology expert faculty and our technology novice faculty. We are committed to authenticity and integrity in this effort. The COE faculty have been the backbone of this initiative as a model of innovation, perseverance, and risk-taking. We dedicate this continued achievement to our students, who will make the world a better place, one child at a time.”
You can view our most recent Apple Distinguished School Renewal Application video below.
