Charlotte Teachers Institute Presents ‘Exploding Canons’ at the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art

Faculty from UNC Charlotte and Davidson College to Participate in Panel Discussion

CHARLOTTE – Feb. 8, 2010 - Charlotte Teachers Institute (CTI) and the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art, along with the Arts & Science Council and Wells Fargo, have joined forces to sponsor “Exploding Canons: Thinking Differently About Disease.”

CTI is a high-quality, intensive professional development program involving UNC Charlotte, Davidson College and the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (CMS).

Five faculty members from Davidson College and UNC Charlotte will take part in “Exploding Canons,” an interdisciplinary panel discussion, Tuesday, Feb. 23, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., at the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art. 

“The concept of ‘Exploding Canons’ involves looking at the topic of disease in new ways. Discussions about disease are often reserved for the health community, but at this event, expert faculty from diverse disciplines will unveil surprising ideas about disease.  We hope to create an interdisciplinary conversation. CTI is grateful to our participating sponsors who’ve helped to make this event possible,” said Charlotte Teachers Institute Director Molly Shaw. 

The topics of conversation include: 

How Disease Shaped the Americas, Jurgen Buchenau, professor and chair, Department of History, UNC Charlotte

HIV and Unexpected Immunities, David Wessner, associate professor, Department of Biology, Davidson College

Cultural Stereotypes Surrounding Global Pandemics, Shelley Rigger, Brown Professor of East Asian Politics, Department of Political Science, Davidson College

Perceptions of Disease and Disability, Ann Fox, associate professor, Department of English, Davidson College

The Effects and Diagnosis of “Dis-ease” in School and Society,  Charles Hutchison, associate professor, Middle and Secondary K-12 Education, UNC Charlotte

A reception will be held at 5:30 p.m. in the museum lobby.  The panel discussion begins at 6:30 p.m. in the Wells Fargo Auditorium.

This event is free and open to the public. CMS teachers, from all grade levels and subjects, as well as CMS administrators are encouraged to attend.  

Visit This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it to register by Feb. 15.

“Exploding Canons” leverages the partnerships among CTI to offer educators and the public collaborative educational opportunities that highlight university and college faculty, explore diverse topics in an interdisciplinary manner, and encourage community conversation.   

This installment of “Exploding Canons” is presented by the Charlotte Teachers Institute, the Arts & Science Council, Bechtler Museum of Modern Art, Wells Fargo, the Chancellor’s Diversity Challenge Fund at UNC Charlotte, Davidson College, and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. 

About the League of Teachers Institutes®

The League of Teachers Institutes® is an alliance that advances their work locally and nationally. Teachers Institutes are educational partnerships between universities and school districts designed to strengthen teaching and learning in a community’s public schools. Evaluations have shown that the Institute approach enhances teacher quality in the ways known to improve student achievement and encourages participants to remain in teaching in urban schools.  Charlotte Teachers Institute is a new member of the League of Teachers Institutes®.

###

For more information, contact CTI Program Director Molly Shaw, (704) 687-0078, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Davidson College Public Relations media contact:  Stacey Schmeidel, (704) 894-2798, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

UNC Charlotte Public Relations media contact:  Buffie Stephens, (704) 687-5830, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

A recent report released by the Yale National Initiative to strengthen teaching in public schools, concludes:

• "Teachers Institutes significantly strengthen teachers in all five of the major dimensions of teacher quality."                                                                                                                                                      

• "They also include all seven elements now recognized to be crucial in successful professional development programs."

• "The study also shows that Institute participants had nearly twice the retention rate of non-participants in local teaching. Because research suggests that experience within a district is more strongly associated with teaching effectiveness than earlier experiences elsewhere, this finding is especially notable."