SALT LAKE CITY — The nation’s largest nonprofit, competency-based university, Western Governors University (WGU), today announced a partnership with Global Online Academy (GOA), a nonprofit organization that empowers students and teachers to thrive in a globally networked society. WGU, in partnership with GOA, will offer the Next Generation Teaching Series to public school districts across the country, helping them to respond to the significant professional development needs during, and after, the coronavirus pandemic. This series will equip educators with the knowledge and skills to reimagine their in-person instruction into high-quality online learning experiences.
WGU and GOA are natural partners, both being mission-driven leaders in online and competency-based education. Together they bring more than 30 years of experience in preparing rising and continuing educators. WGU’s Teachers College is the nation’s largest college of education, with more than 30,000 students currently enrolled. WGU offers initial-licensure undergraduate and graduate programs, with a special focus on STEM and special education programs, as well as graduate programs for already-licensed educators. GOA is the leading online learning organization for independent and international schools, offering high-quality online learning for thousands of students and compelling professional development opportunities for teachers and leaders. Both organizations have a deep commitment to social and emotional learning; diversity, equity, and inclusion; and the thoughtful integration of education innovation with the deep and rich traditions of teaching and learning.
“We’ve been offering highly personalized online and competency-based education to working adults for over 20 years,” said Dr. Mark Milliron, Senior Vice President and Executive Dean of the Teachers College at WGU. “We’re looking forward to partnering with GOA to help teachers learn from our collective experience, meet this challenging moment, and prepare for the road ahead.”
This series will be offered online and asynchronously, with ongoing support and engagement, so educators can participate while working in school or at home. While providing online content that can be used immediately in the classroom, the program also allows participants to earn microcredentials and eventually credit toward advanced degrees in education.
“This kind of program will empower teachers to reimagine what’s possible in how they teach and reach their students,” said Michael Nachbar, Executive Director of GOA. “Partnering with WGU allows us to bring this important work to a broader audience and make a powerful difference nationally.”
The Next Generation Teaching Series will soon be available to select school districts who are interested in empowering their teacher workforce with the skills to reimagine their teaching in class, online, and in an increasingly blended-modality world. To learn more about the Next Generation Teaching Series and to request more information, please visit: wgu.edu/NextGenTeaching
