Education & Human Development

Student Services

The College of Education and Human Development works hard to make sure its students have access to the people and services they need to succeed at UMaine and to grow personally and professionally.

Advising
Within the College, students will find an Advising Center that serves as a campus model for guiding students through the crucial first and second years of study. While the Shibles Hall Advising Center is for Education majors, caring and knowledgeable support staff and faculty carry out similar responsibilities with students majoring in Kinesiology and Physical Education, and Child Development and Family Relations. You can reach these helpful staff members through the Contacting the College.

Technology
The College's computer lab, coordinated by instructional technologist Tim Hart, is located in Room 35 of Shibles Hall. It is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and at other times by request. In addition to access to Macintosh computers and a variety of multi-media equipment, including video production, staff members and graduate assistants are on hand to help students develop, practice and advance skills. The lab also offers adaptive keyboards, voice recognition and specialty software for use with individuals with disabilities.

In September 2001, Shibles Hall became wired for wireless, with a power hub system capable of handling up to 100 portable computers at a time. Access points provide building-wide access to the Internet and other networks for any properly configured portable computer. Shibles Hall has served as a prototype for the University of Maine campus in wireless technology.

In 1996, the College of Education and Human Development became one of six original pilot sites selected by the Maine Department of Education for the then emerging Asynchronous Transmission Mode technology (ATM) and continues to help develop and provide teaching strategies and learning activities using this system. From the Shibles Hall ATM site, UMaine faculty present courses and provide professional development for statewide audiences, and future teachers gain valuable experience in teaching and learning with technology.

The Praxis Series
Praxis is a set of validated assessments that provides information for use by state education agencies in making licensing decisions. Nearly 80 percent of states requiring tests as part of the teacher licensure process – including Maine – use Praxis, an Education Testing Service program. The State of Maine requires successful scores on the PRAXIS I exam for teacher certification. The College of Education and Human Development, in order to recommend graduates for initial certification, requires that students pass the PRAXIS I basic skills test as part of the application to Teacher Candidacy. As a State of Maine-approved program, the College adapts its requirements to meet changing state regulations. State licensing procedures are changing to include Praxis II content test. We are moving towards this as a program requirement to keep pace with changing certification requirements for initial teacher certification. Those who have not completed a teacher education program will also be required to take the pedagogy skills test for certification.

The College offers its students helpful sessions in test -taking preparation and strategies for Praxis I, as well as targeted assistance for students who are having difficulty passing various sections of the exam. Diane Jackson, clinical instructor and special education consultant, provides test-prep sessions at designated times throughout year and dates are provided at www.umaine.edu/edhd/acadprogs/praxis/praxismeetings.htm.