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Physics Professional Development Workshop

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On September 30th, UConn Early College Experience Faculty Coordinator for Physics, David Perry welcomed his group of 40 UConn ECE certified Physics instructors to attend their annual professional development training. This year, Dr. Cara Battersby from UConn’s Physics Department shared an interactive presentation with the group,  titled“The Milky Way Laboratory”.  During the afternoon a conversation was had between instructors and staff from UConn ECE regarding instructor responsibilities and the updated grading policy.

UConn Physics courses offered through Early College Experience

Animal Science Professional Development Workshop

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Our certified Animal Science instructors along with Faculty Coordinators Dr. Jenifer Nadeu and Dr. Amy Safran met with Dr. Julia Wilkinson from Tufts Veterinary Field Service to learn about equine aging and dentistry in a hands on science lab. The group of 12 certified animal science instructors were able to tour the horse barns and observe Dr. Wilkinson floating a horse’s teeth.  This routine procedure involves filing a horse’s teeth to make the chewing surfaces relatively flat or smooth as a part of overall equine health.

UConn Animal Science Courses through UConn ECE

Spring 2025 UConn ECE Library Media Specialists Training

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On Wednesday, June 4th, UConn Early College Experience in collaboration with staff from the Homer Babbidge Library, hosted a professional development day for affiliated UConn ECE Library Media Specialists. Held in person on the Storrs campus, the event offered participants a meaningful opportunity to engage with UConn Library’s Reference & Student Success Services team and explore resources designed to support their critical roles in high school learning environments.

The day began with a guided conversation that fostered open dialogue between high school media specialists and UConn library staff, focusing on shared challenges, best practices, and opportunities for collaboration. Following a brief break, attendees were introduced to key library personnel who support student research and academic success.

Lunch provided a more informal setting for continued discussions and networking, allowing participants to build connections with UConn librarians and with one another. The afternoon wrapped up with guided tours of the Homer Babbidge Library and optional time for self-guided exploration of its spaces and services.

This workshop highlighted the collaborative spirit of the UConn ECE program and reinforced the shared commitment to enriching the academic experience of ECE students across Connecticut.

UConn ECE Lib Guide  designed to assist ECE students, library media specialists, and instructors with navigating and accessing library resources.  

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2025 UConn ECE New Instructor Orientation

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UConn ECE Welcomes 290 Newly Certified Instructors This Spring

This spring, UConn Early College Experience (ECE) celebrated the certification of 290 instructors, including 224 new partners who completed New Instructor Orientation. These educators earned certification in 242 courses, expanding access to UConn courses across Connecticut high schools.

Led by Program Director Chris Todd and the ECE staff, the day-long orientation introduced instructors to key aspects of the program, including teaching responsibilities, student registration, and alignment with NACEP standards. Breakout sessions covered UConn instructional resources, program operations, and student enrichment opportunities such as Pre-College Summer.

Afternoon discipline-specific meetings connected instructors with Faculty Coordinators and peers, fostering collaboration and community. With over 40 Faculty Coordinators participating, the event underscored UConn ECE’s commitment to supporting its growing network.

As the academic year concludes, UConn ECE celebrates this milestone and remains focused on enriching educational opportunities for both teachers and students statewide.

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Spring 2025 UConn ECE LLAS Instructor Workshop

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On Friday, May 16th, UConn Early College Experience and the faculty from Latino and Latin American Studies (LLAS) welcomed certified ECE LLAS instructors to their annual professional development conference, held at the UConn Hartford campus in the Hartford Times Building. This year’s theme, “Contextualizing the Present in the Past: Lessons from Latin America to Help Us Understand Today’s World,” invited participants to reflect on how historical patterns in Latin America—such as authoritarianism, populism, and censorship—can help illuminate current global political challenges.

The day began with program updates, followed by a compelling presentation from Dr. Rodolfo Fernandez, Assistant Professor in Residence, El Instituto who explored how Latin American history offers critical insights into contemporary threats to democracy and the ways individuals have historically resisted them. After lunch, ECE Instructor Bonnie Nietupski presented “Digital Humanities: Empowering Students to Explore and Compare Justice & Law, Memory & Hope in Latin America,” highlighting innovative approaches to student engagement and research. The afternoon concluded with a collaborative session on teaching in times of fear and the role of emerging technologies like ChatGPT. Instructors shared strategies for navigating challenging classroom discussions while equipping students with the tools to connect past and present. The conference offered valuable perspectives, practical resources, and a renewed sense of purpose for educators teaching at the intersection of history, politics, and social justice.

UConn LLAS courses offered through UConn Early College Experience.

Spring 2025 UConn ECE Statistics Instructor Workshop

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On Wednesday, May 14th, UConn Early College Experience (ECE) and the Department of Statistics hosted their annual professional development workshop for all certified UConn ECE STAT instructors. The day was filled with insightful discussions and academic exchange. The workshop began with  short welcome and preliminary announcements, setting a collegial tone for the day. Later Prof. Nalini Ravishanker led a dynamic discussion focused on teaching strategies and course materials, encouraging instructors to share their experiences and ideas for enhancing student learning.

Following a short break the group reconvened for a presentation by Professor Kun Chen from the Department of Statistics. Attendees appreciated the opportunity to hear directly from a leading faculty member on current developments in the field.

UConn Statistics courses offered through UConn Early College Experience.

Spring 2025 UConn ECE HDFS Instructor Workshop

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On Tuesday, May 13th, UConn Early College Experience (ECE) and the Department of Human Development and Family Sciences (HDFS) hosted their annual professional development workshop for all certified UConn ECE HDFS instructors. The event brought together educators from across the state to reflect on the past year, share best practices, and engage in meaningful professional learning.

The day began with a warm welcome and program updates from Dr. Shannon E. Weaver, Faculty Coordinator of the HDFS 1070 and Naomi Inman, Graduate Assistant. Attendees also heard from ECE Program Director, Chris Todd, who provided an important update about all things UConn ECE. Morning sessions included discussions on syllabi requirements and yearly evaluations, led by Dr. Weaver. A keynote presentation on Emerging Topics in Developmental Science followed, offering insights into current trends in the field/ After lunch, instructors participated in a session on evaluating textbooks and engaged in breakout roundtable discussions to share their reviews. The afternoon concluded with a larger group discussion and closing remarks from Dr. Weaver and Naomi Inman. The workshop provided a valuable space for collaboration, reflection, and continued growth within the ECE HDFS teaching community.

UConn HDFS courses offered through UConn Early College Experience.

Spring 2025 UConn ECE Asian and Asian American Studies Workshop

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On Thursday, March 13th, UConn Early College Experience and the faculty from Asian & Asian American Studies (AAAS) welcomed certified ECE AAAS instructors to the annual professional development workshop held at UConn’s Benton Museum of Art. The day began with registration and a warm welcome on the museum’s second floor, where participants discussed both individual and collective goals for the workshop. Attendees then explored the Minnie Negoro exhibit, followed by a reflective session focused on pedagogies related to Japanese American WWII incarceration. After a midday lunch break, the afternoon featured interactive sessions including a pair-and-share syllabus review, discussion of Asian American Studies frameworks, and strategies for incorporating inquiry-based learning into the classroom The workshop provided a meaningful space for collaboration, critical reflection, and the exchange of ideas to enhance teaching practices in Asian and Asian American Studies.

UConn AAAS courses offered through UConn Early College Experience.

Spring 2025 UConn ECE Environmental Science Instructor Workshop

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On, Wednesday, March 12th UConn Early College Experience, in collaboration with the Environmental Sciences faculty, hosted the annual Professional Development Workshop for certified UConn ECE Natural Resources and the Environment (NRE) instructors. The event was held virtually via WebEx, allowing participants from across the state to join remotely.

The conference began with a warm welcome and introductions led by Morty Ortega. The highlight of the morning was a presentation by Dr. Rick Relyea, Professor and David M. Darrin ’40 Senior Endowed Chair at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Dr. Relyea shared valuable insights on freshwater salinization and its ecological impacts on animals, plants, and algae.

Following a short break, the session resumed with a practical segment focused on bringing environmental science into the classroom, equipping instructors with tools and strategies to engage students in real-world ecological issues.

The workshop concluded with final thoughts from Morty Ortega, wrapping up a morning of meaningful discussion and professional growth for NRE educators.

UConn NRE courses offered through UConn Early College Experience.

Spring 2025 UConn ECE European History Instructor Workshop

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On Wednesday, March 12, UConn Early College Experience and the faculty from HIST 1400 welcomed certified instructors to the annual professional development conference, held on the UConn Storrs campus in the Babbidge Library’s HBL 1102 Instruction Room.

The day began with a welcome session, followed by a presentation from Dr. Dexter Gabriel, who spoke on “Black People in the European World: From the Early Modern Era through the Age of Emancipation.”

Attendees then engaged in a group discussion centered on selected articles and a video, including:

  • “A Conversation on the Black Presence in Tudor England” (Fine Arts Museum of San Francisco)
  • Scholarly works by Mullen, Mundell, Newman, and Miguel Valerio, exploring Black lives in 18th-century Britain and Afro-Christian identity in Iberia.

After a short break, Mr. Richard Bleiler, UConn’s Collections & Humanities Librarian, introduced instructors to primary sources available in the UConn Libraries related to Black people in Europe.

Following lunch, Dr. Kaveh Yazdani presented on “Slavery, Anton Wilhelm Amo, and the Appraisal of Blacks in German Lands, 17th to 18th Centuries,” offering valuable historical context and classroom insight.

The conference concluded with an open discussion on how to incorporate race and diversity into the HIST 1400 curriculum, fostering a deeper and more inclusive understanding of European history among students.

UConn History courses offered through UConn Early College Experience.