New arts and sciences consortium formed

Setting consistent, high standards for all arts and science initiatives in Middle Tennessee schools is one of the goals of a new consortium of educational agencies and schools that includes Vanderbilt University.

The Tennessee Arts and Sciences Education Consortium will hold its first curriculum workshop May 22 at the Bordeaux Library. The consortium is working to bring quality learning experiences in both formal and informal arts- and science-related school programs to Tennessee K12 students, according to Susan Kuner, director of the Virtual School at Vanderbilt.

"One example would be students receiving a lesson about animal care from the Nashville Zoo followed by instruction from a Vanderbilt researcher about cell biology," Kuner said. "A session from the Frist Center for the Visual Arts on how art relates to scientific inquiry could be included as well in an integrated curriculum."

Goals for the consortium include providing K-12 schools and the community with quality, cross-contented learning experiences that conform to national, state and local curriculum standards, access through broad-based delivery and ongoing evaluation to improve programs and assessment of student learning.

Jan Zanetis, program assistant for the Virtual School, said that Vanderbilt helped start the consortium because the project aptly represents the University's commitments to community engagement and K-12 education.

"One of the unique aspects of the consortium is that it provides the opportunity for universities, K12 schools and educational agencies to work together across such a broad spectrum," Zanetis said.

In addition to Vanderbilt, the planning committee for the consortium includes representatives from the Nashville Zoo, Frist Center for the Visual Arts, Nashville Public Library, Mental Health Association of Middle Tennessee, Tennessee Aquarium, Metropolitan Foundation for Public Education, and Metro Nashville and Williamson county schools. Kuner said future projects for the consortium could include cataloging members' available programs, creating thematic curriculums, holding videoconferences and developing educational access television programs.

Science curriculum specialists from Vanderbilt and Tennessee State universities as well as Williamson County Schools will present a hands-on overview of different educational approaches to learning at the May 22 workshop. The event is open to all interested persons at non-profit educational agencies and school curriculum specialists. To register for the workshop, call the Vanderbilt Virtual School at 343-0700 or e-mail Susan Kuner at susan.kuner@vanderbilt.edu.