Pictured (L-R): Hojun Lee (SNU), Keunsoo Kim (SNU), Suzanne Wilkinson (FSUS), Jaeyeop Lee (SNU), Lynn Wicker (FSUS), Seungho Maeng (SNU), Steve Bowen (FSUS), Yungdong Lee (SNU)
FSUS has
“Seoul”
By Melanie Carty
F
lorida State University Schools (FSUS), one of the FSU College of Education’s two developmental research schools, is gaining an international reputation for excellence in higher education. The 1700-student K-12 school, which is operated under a charter agreement by FSU, provides a venue for educational research, curriculum innovation, educator development, statewide reform efforts, and now most recently international inquiry. On September 15 and 16 of 2014, five researchers from Seoul National University (SNU) in Seoul, South Korea, visited FSUS to learn more about the general operation of laboratory schools and to see how the research/lab school is administered in collaboration with Florida State University and its College of Education. SNU has four affiliated public schools — an elementary school, one middle school for boys and another for girls, and a high school. The university is working toward restructuring them to function as laboratory schools in collaboration with SNU’s College of Education. Dr. Seungho Maeng, a researcher with the Center for the Advancement of Education and Research of Affiliated Schools at SNU, initiated this collaborative effort between SNU and FSUS. “After researching lab schools in America, Maeng felt that FSUS and FSU had the relationship that SNU was looking to replicate,” said Dr. Lynn Wicker, FSUS director. Wicker played host to Maeng and his group, which included Jaeyeop Lee, vice principal of SNU High School; Yungdong Lee, chief of curriculum development at SNU High School;
Keunsoo Kim, chief of school affairs at SNU Girls’ Middle School; and Hojun Lee, Ph.D. candidate researcher at SNU. The Seoul National contingent began their first day meeting with Director of Research and Teacher Education Suzanne Wilkinson, Associate Director Steve Bowen, and Wicker. Afterward, they attended the weekly meeting of the administrative staff and toured the FSUS campus with visits to arts and music classes, the media center, a computer lab and academic classes. They also had an experiential introduction to the flight simulator and the STEM program that it is used to enhance.
Seoul researchers were introduced to the flight simulator at FSUS, a cutting-edge part of their STEM education program.
On the second day, the group toured the FSU College of Education where they experimented with the latest technology and gadgets in the “Technology Sandbox,” were treated to a TeachLivE demonstration, and met with Dr. Patrick Malone and Jessica Waters in the Office of Academic Services and Intern Support (OASIS) regarding the student field placement experience. The group concluded their visit by accompanying Wicker, Wilkinson, Assessment and Accountability Director Megan Brink, and FSUS K-12 Principal Elvis Epps to a collaborative meeting at the Florida A&M University-Florida State University College of Engineering. Afterwards, Maeng explained to Wicker that visiting with FSUS staff and faculty was invaluable in helping them pave the way for a successful transition. “The meetings and tour programs that you had organized for us were all very impressive to me,” said Maeng. “I deeply appreciate you for your kind and passionate explanation about FSUS.” T
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