Service Divisions

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E.L. Cord Foundation Center for Learning and Literacy

The E.L. Cord Foundation Center for Learning and Literacy organizes and promotes literacy instruction and research, provides opportunities for students to develop competence in assessment and remedial instruction, and provides a place for families to obtain assessments and tutorial services. Approximately 200 children are enrolled in these programs each year.

Certified teachers and preservice teachers assess and tutor children who experience difficulties in all areas of literacy development. The center is equipped to demonstrate assessment and remedial practices. The staff and tutors work with parents and teachers to develop educational programs for children who come to the center.

The center also works with educators to develop school wide tutoring programs. The center hires approximately 20 students to serve as tutors in three or more Reading Buddies tutoring programs. The center has a bank of tutors for referral when it is not possible for students to be tutored at the center. Most Saturdays, the center is open to students enrolled in a program to teach Chinese reading to bilingual students at beginning, transitional and intermediate levels.

The center houses the nationally acclaimed Northern Nevada Writing Project (NNWP), one of more than 170 affiliates of the National Writing Project. The goals of the NNWP since 1982 have been to improve student writing by improving the teaching of writing, to improve university and school professional development programs for classroom teachers, and to increase the professional power of classroom teachers. The activities of the NNWP include: teacher training workshops, teacher research groups, Write Stuff and TWIST (summer writing programs for students), Book-Out; Pi?on Poetry Festival; parent/family writing nights; distance education classes; secondary and elementary writing guides; and Project Outreach.

The center sponsors a variety of professional workshops. Over the past several years, the center has sponsored a 3-day workshop that shows teachers and teacher leader techniques to blend reading, word study and spelling instruction. These workshops are for educators who want to learn more about effective phonics, spelling and vocabulary instruction.

Graduate students and assistants from the college work with the center’s staff. Through grant activity and fees, up to 15 graduate students and mentor teachers work in the center each semester. Students’ work is an essential component of our operations.

For more information, visit our website at http://www.unr.edu/educ/cll or call the E.L. Cord Foundation Center for Learning and Literacy, (775) 784-4951.

Nell J. Redfield Learning and Resource Center

The Learning and Resource Center in the William Raggio Building provides instructional media facilities in many areas.

Included among the facilities are the:

Media library–a cooperative effort with the Washoe County School District that features:

• An extensive children’s book collection
• Course-related books and educational materials
• Audio and video tapes
• Instructional software
• Study prints
• DVD’s
• Media kits

Media production facility--digital video editing, mounting and laminating pictures, lettering, duplication, production of overhead transparencies, book binding and use of photographic copy stand.

Instructional enhancement–Microteaching facilities, audio and video tape dubbing and editing; and consultation in instructional design.

The Learning and Resource Center is open regularly from 8 a.m. to 7:45 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Friday. Audiovisual equipment is available for use in the College of Education. Materials in the media production facility are available to university faculty, students, and teachers for nominal costs.

For more information, call the Learning and Resource Center, (775) 784-4971.

Nevada Center for Excellence in Disabilities

The Nevada Center for Excellence in Disabilities (NCED) provides:

• transdisciplinary, interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary training;
• model exemplary services;
• information on developmental disabilities and services options across the life span;
• technical assistance; and,
• relevant research and evaluation studies.

Raggio Research Center for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Education

The Raggio Research Center (RRC) for Science, Technology Engineering and Mathematics(STEM) Education exists to promote STEM research, education and service activities in Nevada. The RRC:

• Provides an intellectual home for university and K-12 faculty and administrators interested in the development and delivery of STEM related professional development courses and technology-rich instructional resources.
• Fosters fundamental and applied research related to the initial preparation of and continuing professional development of STEM teachers.
• Fosters interest in STEM education and careers among K-12 and university students through special events and presentations.
• Builds research and academic programs through externally-funded grants and contracts that attract and support STEM students.

Through these and other activities, the RRC serves as a nexus for STEM-related ventures and as a fulcrum for leveraging human, financial and technical resources on campus and around the state. The RRC online community of practice serves as the gateway to these resources and as the medium of communication among RRC partners. Additional information about the RRC is available on the website http://www.unr.edu/raggiocenter/. Individuals interested in joining RRC community of practice are invited to contact the RRC via email at rrc@unr.edu or by phone (775)682-7876.

Child and Family Research Center

In addition to being a teaching and research facility, the Child & Family Research Center provides education and care for children, ages 6 weeks to 6 years, of UNR students, staff and faculty. Curriculum planning and implementation revolve around open-ended and often long-term projects that engage children through in-depth investigation of topics of interest. Children are supported in developing confidence, intellectual curiosity, and enthusiasm for learning. The CFRC serves the early childhood community in northern Nevada as a model for early care and education best practices.

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