News Release

By L.J. Toler
UNC News Services

CHAPEL HILL — The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools today (Oct. 20) formally opened an advanced new facility designed to catalyze teaching, learning and research among school and university students, teachers and university faculty.

The Carolina Center for Educational Excellence, a $1.2 million addition to R.D. and Euzelle Smith Middle School, opened with tours, demonstrations of advanced communications technologies and remarks by Howard Lee, Chairman of the State Board of Education.

A part of the UNC School of Education, the 7,300 square-foot center makes possible these and other opportunities:

· Participation, by students and teachers, in worldwide or statewide learning experiences via advanced communication technologies;

· Professional development, advanced-degree, support and retention programs for preschool through 12^th-grade teachers and administrators, on site as well as beyond through videoconferencing;

· Virtual visits to school classrooms by School of Education students; and

· A hub for sharing new teaching approaches and research results and needs.

Planned and designed by representatives of the School of Education and the Chapel Hill-Carrboro schools, the center embodies one way in which UNC serves North Carolinians, said Chancellor James Moeser.

"Carolina has many strong connections with people and communities across the state, but perhaps none as strong as those right here in Chapel Hill, Carrboro and Orange County," said Moeser, participating in the opening as part of his "Carolina Connects" initiative. Through the initiative, Moeser is visiting sites of UNC public service projects across North Carolina. "This center is a powerful example of the way in which Carolina connects."

The center’s three classrooms offer giant plasma screen monitors and high-speed access to the World Wide Web. Its mathematics and science teaching laboratory, funded with $150,000 from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, will offer instruction for children as well as for teachers and School of Education students learning how to teach mathematics and science.

"With this new center, we are making a great leap forward in working directly with North Carolina’s public schools to expand educational opportunities for the young," said Dr. Tom James, dean of the School of Education. "In partnership with our colleagues in public schools, the work of the center will focus on ways to strengthen teaching and learning."

Beginning some operations before today’s official opening, the center already has made possible a learning opportunity for Chapel Hill students from Phillips and Smith middle schools. Last May, those schools were among 25 chosen to make presentations in the worldwide Megaconference Jr., a videoconference using advanced technologies that was seen at more than 150 schools worldwide.

To participate, schools needed access to a location with the required technology and sponsorship by a university with Internet2. The center and the School of Education provided both. Internet2 is a second-generation, non-commercial Internet for research and education.

"The center provides a wonderful setting for innovative collaboration among public schools and higher education professionals," said Dr. Neil G. Pedersen, superintendent of the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools. "Through its location as a part of Smith Middle School, the center can offer staff development focused on student and teacher needs."

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For background on Carolina Connects, visit http://www.unc.edu/news/newsserv/archives/may04/carolinaconnects052704.html

School of Education contact: Linda Baucom, 962-8687, lbaucom@unc.edu

News Services contacts: Lisa Katz, 962-2093; Deborah Saine, 962-8415