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Education and Human Services According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, autism affects one in every 110 children in America. For boys, it’s even more prevalent — one in 70. To meet the growing need for information, best practices and support among parents, teachers and others who care for and educate these youngsters, the Department of Teacher Education has added a new certificate program, Foundations of Autism Spectrum Disorders, offered at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. The prog ra m is c ompr i s e d of fou r cou rses to prov ide s t u d e nt s w it h t he basic knowledge and skills to teach children and adolescents with autism, including information on programming for early, middle and secondary grades. St udents w i l l ex a m i ne cha ra cteristics of individuals with autism, practice educational interventions, and learn about the scientific knowledge and theory underlying educational practices, programs and strategies for people with autism. Accord i n g to a ssist a nt professor and program director Anthony L. Menendez, course content addresses a very real community need for practical and pragmatic information and strategies to help improve the quality of life for children and adults with autism. “Social and emotional problems are commonly experienced when interact-
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ing with people with autism,” he notes. “Parents and teachers are looking for answers and ways to help.” CSU and its Council for Exceptional Children student chapter regularly host speakers, workshops and conferences for those interested in autism. Seats always fill up quickly, and Dr. Menendez is noticing the same trend for the autism courses. “Autism is an urgent and growing public health crisis,” he says. “CSU’s c e r t i f ic a t e pr o g r a m i s for f a m i l y memb er s , e duc at or s , he a lt h- c a re providers, students and anyone who w a nt s t o l e a r n m o r e a n d m a k e a difference.” For i n for mat ion on t he aut ism certificate program, call 216-687-4625. To learn more about the College, visit www.csuohio.edu/cehs
COLLEGE OF
Science
R EEL Chemistr y, a non-traditional undergraduate lab course that provides students with real experiences in general and organic chemistry research, has students clamoring to enroll. And no wonder. As freshmen, they get to develop and pursue their own research projects on such topics as arsenic and chromium content in wooden playground structures, lead concentrations in the vicinity of gun ranges, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in cooked foods, sealed coated parking lots and motor oils. Funded by a National Science Foundation grant, the REEL (Research Experience to Enhance Learning) method of lab teaching has students working independently and collaboratively on their own research projects. Since most
lack any sort of research background, guidance and instruction are provided on literature searches, instrument use, data acquisition, data analysis, and presentation of results. At the end of the semester, students present a poster of their research at a REEL Chemistry conference sponsored by a participating university or at a regional American Chemical Society meeting. Associate Professor Rober t Wei brought REEL Chemistry to CSU five years ago; lecturer Anne O’Connor has served as primary instructor and coordinator for the past three years. “In a traditional lab course, the experiments are usually exercises with known outcomes. In REEL lab, students are working on actual research projects so the outcomes are unknown. This provides them with a sense of discovery and knowledge, which is an essential part of the learning process,” says Dr. O’Connor. Jerry Mundell, coordinator of the freshman chemistry committee, adds, “Students develop critical and creative thinking that builds confidence as well as knowledge. REEL is redefining the lab experience at CSU.” For information on R EEL, email a.oconnor@csuohio.edu. To learn more about the College, visit www.csuohio.edu/sciences