William Woods University to host innovative cooperative learning training in 2019

University will be the host of the first-ever regional academy of Kagan Cooperative Learning in mid-Missouri

Fulton, MO – For the first time, current and practicing teachers in mid-Missouri will have the opportunity to attend a regional training hosted by Kagan Cooperative Learning in their own backyard during 2019.

William Woods University (WWU) will be hosting the innovative training program, which has benefitted generations of elementary, secondary and college educational professionals, next July on its campus in Fulton. It will mark the first time that Kagan’s training program will be presented as a regional academy in mid-Missouri, allowing local teachers to learn techniques designed to increase student participation and engagement during class time.

“We are pleased to have the opportunity to host the Kagan Cooperative Learning training program at William Woods during 2019, a program that has been training teachers across the country for more than 40 years,” said Dr. Jahnae H. Barnett, president of William Woods University. “Being the first college or school to host the training in mid-Missouri is another plus for our outstanding Education department, which has been making its mark on Missouri for years through the prevalence of our alumni serving in leadership positions is school districts across the state.”

Kagan Cooperative Learning is a company that was founded in the early 1970’s by Dr. Spencer Kagan, an educational researcher and teacher whose goal was to increase student participation and engagement during class time. Dr. Kagan developed Cooperative Learning structures that was based on his research, and the training that resulted has been taught to educators across the nation for more than 40 years.

Dr. Tim Hanrahan, Associate Dean of Faculty Development at WWU, has served as an associate trainer of the program and has helped instruct at training around the nation.

“This training is great because it allows attendants to see how other schools and cultures work,” said Hanrahan. “The workshop we will host will allow teachers to learn these skills and begin to practice them in the classroom.”

The Kagan Cooperative Learning Days 1-5 Institute at William Woods is scheduled for July 22-26, 2019, and will be open to all currently practicing and future teachers. For information on registering for the training, please visit https://www.kaganonline.com/workshops/summer_academy/regional-fulton_mo_cl_7_22-26_2019.php.