Teachers Training to Teach AP Courses

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. —Teachers from Arkansas and neighboring states are attending an intensive one week course at the University of Arkansas to learn ways to help students get the most out of advanced placement courses. The university’s Honors College and the office of post-graduate fellowships are hosting the ninth annual Advance Placement Summer Institute. About 300 teachers and consultants are attending the College Board-approved program from Monday, July 9, to Friday, July 13. They will be taught by 17 “super teachers” trained by the College Board.

“Each year our institute includes new consultants, new texts, new lab experiments, new materials and information, so teachers can return to our campus year after year, and always learn fresh, compelling methods of engaging their students in the materials,” said Suzanne McCray, associate dean of the Honors College and director of the summer institute.

During the 32 hours of instruction, teachers learn and share teaching strategies to engage students and create a classroom environment that stimulates participation and active learning.

The College Board consultants team with university faculty members including professors Mack Ivey, biology; Bernard Madison, calculus; Bill Durham, chemistry; Anne Marie Candido, pre-English;  David Jolliffe, English; Gay Stewart, physics; Dave Schroeder, psychology;  Bill Schreckhise, U.S. government; Patrick Williams, U.S. history, and Lynda Coon, world history.  Jolliffe is currently serving as the national chief reader for advanced placement language and composition as well. Faculty members provide guest lectures, assist with experiments, and connect the participating teachers with other university faculty.

 “It’s a great partnership,” said Stewart, a member of the College Board physics exam redesign team, “and it is not limited to the summer program. We work with a host of teachers throughout the year, supporting their efforts. It benefits everyone.”

The University of Arkansas accepts more advanced placement credits from incoming students than any other institution in the state and heavily recruits students with advanced placement credits. 

"Advanced placement is essential to our mission of recruiting and retaining the state's high ability students," said Chancellor John A. White. “We know that students coming in with advanced placement credit will thrive in the college classroom. They will have more freedom to include second and even third majors. They have more flexibility when studying abroad and more time for undergraduate research. The University of Arkansas is excited about partnering with teachers across the state and region to increase these important opportunities for our young people.”

Last year, entering freshman brought nearly 2,700 hours of advanced placement credits to the university, saving themselves more than $500,000 in tuition. When the institute began nine years ago the university awarded approximately 900 hours of advanced placement credits. The increase reflects better training for teachers and better preparation for Arkansas students, as well as a "brain gain" at the University of Arkansas.

Advanced placement courses offered in state and area schools include biology, calculus AB, chemistry, computer science, English language and composition, English literature, pre-AP high school English, pre-AP middle school English, pre-AP high school math, pre-AP middle school math, physics, psychology, U.S. history, world history, and government and politics.