Academy for Collaboration at a Distance (ACAD)
The Center for Mathematics, Science and Computer Education

Academy for Collaboration at a Distance (ACAD)

The mission of ACAD is to enhance learning and teaching through collaborations. CMSCE will foster collaborations among educators, practitioners and researchers to meet this goal. Sustained professional development, resources and content experts will be nurtured by the Center to provide educators with the tools for exciting, energizing and thoughtful collaborations.


ACAD is:

  1. Sustained professional development to encourage and support teachers as they develop and participate in collaborations both for their own professional development and for student-centered projects.
  2. A gathering place for resources to provide teachers the tools for their own learning and for the collaborations within their classrooms.
  3. A source of special events that enable educators to take learning beyond the four walls of the classroom.
  4. A connection between faculty at Rutgers University and the K-12 community to bring excellent content and activities into the classroom.

Activities of ACAD:

  1. Professional Development:
    • Educators will come together for a one-day workshop. The objective of the workshop is to explore new collaborative tools. Using these tools, the ACAD educators will develop collaborative learning experiences with other teachers in New Jersey.
    • Point-to-point follow-up sessions between each ACAD educator at his/her site and CMSCE will allow educators to practice using the tools learned at the workshop.
    • ACAD educators will continue to work together on developing collaborations using online curriculum planning tools. CMSCE will monitor the work done and provide input and a list of additional resources as the activity is developed.
    • CMSCE will provide pre and post assessment specific to the professional development provided.
  2. ACAD collaborations will take place over the seven week period following the planning activities.
    • CMSCE will provide videoconference connections for the classroom-to-classroom collaborations necessary for the success of the project.
    • CMSCE will oversee and nurture the collaborations.
    • CMSCE will provide technical assistance where needed.
    • CMSCE will provide pre and post assessments of the students’ collaborations.
  3. CMSCE Resource Center
    • CMSCE hosts the K-16 Videoconferencing Resources Guide funded by Verizon.
    • CMSCE hosts a Peer-to-Peer Videoconferencing Guide funded by Verizon.
    • CMSCE will provide links to other online resources and the latest tools available to educators.
    • ACAD educators will have access to online collaborative tools.
  4. ACAD Special Events:
    • Throughout the year CMSCE will sponsor innovative and motivating videoconferencing connections. Examples include ongoing discussions with authors, meeting and working with faculty and students at Rutgers University, visits to places throughout the global community and discussions with the leaders of our communities, state and nation. (When necessary, there will be a small charge to participate in these connections.)
    • Throughout the year CMSCE will host an ongoing series of after school professional development opportunities to enhance teaching in the K-12 community. Teachers can attend these sessions remotely and have access to innovative workshops whose subjects include test prep, literacy, mathematics and science. (When necessary, there will be a small charge to participate in these connections.)
  5. Rutgers University Connection
    • Professors and graduate students at Rutgers University will meet with students via videoconferencing tools and email to share their knowledge and encourage students to extend their learning by using their new knowledge in an ongoing collaborative activity.
    • Professors and graduate students will offer professional development to educators via videoconferencing. Teaching strategies and current content will be the hallmark of these pd experiences.

Timeline for ACAD K-12 Activity:

    • ACAD Cohort 1: Grades 5-12 course # 102307
      • Full day workshop: October 23, 2007
      • On-site follow-up sessions: October 30, 2007 - November 7, 2007
      • Collaborative Activity period: November 12, 2007 – December 21, 2007
    • ACAD Cohort 2: Grades 1-4 course # 040708
      • Full day workshop: April 7, 2008
      • On-site follow-up sessions: April 9, 2008 - April 17, 2008
      • Collaborative Activity period: May 5, 2008 – June 13, 2008
The cost for participation in ACAD is $500 per session. Registration fee for a team of two teachers is $800.

There is a limit of 12 teachers per ACAD session.

Reserve a place in an ACAD Project now. Register online at http://cmsce.rutgers.edu/registration/registration.php or complete this form and fax to 732.445.3477.

For additional information contact:
Harriet Schweitzer, 732.445.0669 harriets@rci.rutgers.edu
Judy Bornstein , 732.445.0670, jsborn@rci.rutgers.edu