Francis Marion University's School of Education prepares competent  and caring teachers.

The Teaching Materials Center offers education students a wide variety of electronic and print resources for use in education classes and during student teaching.  Nine computer workstations comprise a computer lab within the Center and other technology resources like digital cameras, Alpha Smarts, laser discs, and video cameras are available for use.  Print resources include copies of K-12 state-adopted textbooks and teacher materials, as well as other resources like manipulatives and science kits.  The collection ranges from pre-kindergarten through high school and contains materials that are current and appropriate for each subject area, each grade level, and each professional program.  This extensive collection allows preservice teachers to create a broad range of lesson plans and activities.

The Teaching Materials Center is located in Founders Hall 220A, telephone (843) 661-1476.

     Innovation Place, established with a $100,000 gift from Progress Energy, provides education students with a high-tech computer lab of twenty student work stations and one instructor station.  The instructor station is equipped with a visual presenter as well as digital projection equipment.  Student workstations provide the latest in software, including the capability to produce virtual reality media clips for use on web pages.  Named in honor of the late J. R. Bryan Jackson, a Florence businessman and life-long advocate for quality education, Innovation Place provides faculty and students alike high-tech resources for today's education classrooms.

In 1998, the US Congress passed legislation, Title II, Section 207, of the Higher Education Act (HEA), that required all states and institutions that have teacher preparation programs to submit annual reports on teacher preparation and licensing beginning in 2001.  The institutional reports released October 10, 2006, include information about the pass rates of students on tests required for state certification, the number of students in the program, and the institution's accreditation status, among other information.

Dr. Ron Faulkenberry, Dean of the School of Education at Francis Marion University, attributes the School's success rate to a strong, dedicated faculty and the collaborative arrangement with nineteen area school districts that provide ideal clinical experiences.

Additional information may be obtained by e-mail from Dr. Wayne Pruitt or Dr. Ron Faulkenberry.