About
the Ed Lab
The Betty Stike Educational Laboratory at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington is designed as a critical component of the undergraduate elementary and special education programs. Students practice the methods they are learning in their courses by tutoring a child in a one-on-one setting.
Tutoring is designed as a positive experience, focusing on the child's strengths, needs, and interests. Students are coached as they learn new strategies and skills in reading, writing and mathematics. Open communication with parents is also an important part of the Ed Lab experience.
The Ed Lab is located in the Watson School of Education Regional Educational
Resource Center. It provides an environment rich with print and non-print
media, manipulatives for math, and a wide variety of materials and supplies
which invite learning.
The Staff
The staff consists of faculty, a graduate assistant, a secretary,
and a work study student. Staff is available
from 9 am to 2pm, Monday through Thursday, to review lesson plans. The
staff provides daily support to the learning activities of the lab.
Parents as Partners
Parents are integral to the success of tutoring. They provide valuable
insights into their child's learning and guide the development of the
tutoring objectives. Tutors communicate with parents or caregivers after
each tutoring session and give updates on learning progress. Parents
are invited to participate in the Author's Showcase. At
the end of the semester, tutors engage in an exit conference with the
parents, summarizing the semester's work. At this time parents also receive
a letter from the tutor detailing the child’s tutoring experience.
Advisory Board
To assist the staff with insight into lab operation and to gain a broad based view of lab design and functioning, an Advisory Board was created. Members represent the constituency being served:
- UNCW Faculty in Elementary and Special Education.
- Technology Center Staff Members
- Ed Lab Director