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Our Mission
The Center for Technology and School Change is committed to the creation of innovative learning environments for all students. Recognizing technology as a catalyst for transforming instruction, the Center engages in research and practice to reimagine approaches to equitable education in the digital age.
Dr. Ellen Meier
Director and Co-Founder
Dr. Meier is the Executive Director and Co-Founder of the Center for Technology and School Change and a faculty member in the Department of Mathematics, Science, and Technology at Teachers College, Columbia University. She is also Co-Chair of the University of the State of New York Council on Technology Policy and Practice, a panel appointed by the Regents to examine technology use in public schools, libraries, museums and other similar state agencies.
Dr. Meier is the Director and Co-Founder of the Center for Technology and School Change and a faculty member in the Department of Mathematics, Science, and Technology at Teachers College, Columbia University. She is also Co-Chair of the University of the State of New York Council on Technology Policy and Practice, a panel appointed by the Regents to examine technology use in public schools, libraries, museums and other similar state agencies. She began her career as a teacher in a federal experimental school program in Minnesota with an interest in school reform and equity, and soon pursued school change issues more broadly in a succession of regional and national responsibilities. Over the past dozen years, in collaboration with the Center’s professional developers, she has shaped the Center’s successful approach for integrating technology, using a design process focused on essential questions. Dr. Meier also directs the Center’s numerous evaluation and research grants related to technology integration. She holds an Ed.D. in Leadership and Organization from Teachers College, Columbia University, an M.A. in Educational Administration from the University of Minnesota, and a B.A. in English Education from the University of Iowa.
CTSC Team
The CTSC team is unique, bringing both classroom experience and disciplinary content expertise in using technology. Center staff come from a variety of different backgrounds, including teachers, engineers, and researchers studying the impact of technology in classrooms. CTSC staff are education professionals who share a vision and deep understanding of how technology can be used effectively in the classroom.
Explore Our Certification Program
Technology is changing every aspect of our world, but schools are still discovering creative uses of technology that engage students in authentic learning projects. This New York State certification program explores exciting uses of technology that change the way we think about traditional educational practices. Program graduates are prepared to support K-12 teachers across different content areas in the design and implementation of technology-integrated projects and to serve in leadership roles within schools, school districts or other educational settings.
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Former CTSC intern and student of Dr. Meier, Joohee Son (Ed.D ’13) has started her own K-12 school in South Korea. During her time at Teachers College, Son interned at CTSC and shared that this experience helped her establish a unique perspective on international education. Working with Dr. Meier helped Son to gain a deep understanding of technology policy and ways to put theory into practice in her new school.
Learn more about Joohee Son and her school.
Former CTSC intern and student of Dr. Meier, Joohee Son (Ed.D ’13) has started her own K-12 school in South Korea. During her time at Teachers College, Son interned at CTSC and shared that this experience helped her establish a unique perspective on international education. Working with Dr. Meier helped Son to gain a deep understanding of technology policy and ways to put theory into practice in her new school.
Learn more about Joohee Son and her school.
The Center for Technology and School Change (CTSC) kicked off a summer institute series for over 125 educators taking part in the National Science Foundation-funded STILE grant (Systemic Transformation of Inquiry Learning Environments) this past July and August 2022.
Four multi-day virtual institutes were held with a cohort of 20 participating New York City schools across all boroughs. During these highly interactive sessions, educators developed a shared language around STEM and transdisciplinary concepts, and explored a process for designing projects contextualized to the realities of their schools. Teachers left the institute with anticipation for bringing STEM to life in their classrooms. As one teacher noted, this work will “open students to new and different learning experiences.”
CTSC’s STILE initiative represents a 10+ year effort to design and implement an effective approach to building STEM practices for teachers and school leaders. The shift to transdisciplinary learning requires a new pedagogical perspective, and reflection on the everyday structure of schooling. STILE educators will work alongside CTSC facilitators to design a STEM project over the course of the academic year.
CTSC looks forward to continuing the work with NYC educators and to sharing successes and promises for hands-on, student-centered learning over the coming months.
The Center for Technology and School Change (CTSC) kicked off a summer institute series for over 125 educators taking part in the National Science Foundation-funded STILE grant (Systemic Transformation of Inquiry Learning Environments) this past July and August 2022.
Four multi-day virtual institutes were held with a cohort of 20 participating New York City schools across all boroughs. During these highly interactive sessions, educators developed a shared language around STEM and transdisciplinary concepts, and explored a process for designing projects contextualized to the realities of their schools. Teachers left the institute with anticipation for bringing STEM to life in their classrooms. As one teacher noted, this work will “open students to new and different learning experiences.”
CTSC’s STILE initiative represents a 10+ year effort to design and implement an effective approach to building STEM practices for teachers and school leaders. The shift to transdisciplinary learning requires a new pedagogical perspective, and reflection on the everyday structure of schooling. STILE educators will work alongside CTSC facilitators to design a STEM project over the course of the academic year.
CTSC looks forward to continuing the work with NYC educators and to sharing successes and promises for hands-on, student-centered learning over the coming months.
The Center for Technology and School Change (CTSC) at Teachers College, Columbia University works with schools to grow inquiry-based transdisciplinary design practices, develop technology-infused curriculum, and implement STEM-anchored project-based learning experiences. As the Senior Director of Professional Development for CTSC, Karen Kirsch Page took part in an EdTech Advocacy 'Fly-In' on Capitol Hill last week representing the Center along with education leaders from all over the U.S. We reached nearly 70 offices from 27 states. State educators met legislative teams to discuss important edtech policy issues relevant to AI in education, the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), supporting effective instruction through professional development and extended student learning support through ESSA, student privacy, and cybersecurity. Congressional representatives and senators and their legislative teams were interested and responsive!
The New York advocates (pictured below) worked together in meetings in the offices of Senators Schumer and Gillibrand and Congressman Espaillat to advocate for specific relevant issues surrounding digital learning as a key element in creating equitable, effective, and innovative learning for students and teachers alike.
The CTSC PD team presented to a room full of administrators and teachers from all over the country on April 19, 2024 as a part of the Magnet Schools of America Conference hosted this year in New York City by the local Magnet leadership. CTSC designed a workshop in partnership with the Magnet school instructional coaches from one of our NSF STILE grant participants PS 182Q the School of Discovery and Applied Learning.
The workshop, "Professional Development: K-12 Schools and Higher Ed Partners Designing Together to Empower Students in Transdisciplinary Learning," unfolded as a dynamic exchange of ideas and experiences. Attendees were introduced to the collaborative journey between PS 182Q and CTSC, showcasing the transformative power of partnerships in shaping effective professional development. The session emphasized the work under the STILE grant that focuses on the co-construction of STEM-anchored learning experiences while catering to the unique context of each school and fostering an environment where both teachers and students grow and thrive.
A highlight of the workshop was the discussion around transdisciplinary project-based learning, where the boundaries between traditional subjects dissolve, allowing students to tackle real-world problems through a holistic lens. Participants considered the shift from teacher-led instruction to student-centered approaches, highlighting the importance of empowering learners to take ownership of their own education.
Participants were equipped with actionable strategies for IBL and PBL development, along with some new thinking about the crucial role relationships play in sustaining pedagogical innovation. The collaborative spirit of the event modeled for attendees how, through strategic partnerships with higher ed partners, K-12 schools can tap a wealth of resources, support, and opportunities to build instructional and design skills for teachers, elevate student learning, and drive meaningful change within schools.