Carver Trust grant expands educational technology in UNI’s TEACH Studio
Carver Trust grant expands educational technology in UNI’s TEACH Studio
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa — The University of Northern Iowa has received a $130,000 grant from the Roy J. Carver Charitable Trust to support continued development of the TEACH Studio, an innovative learning environment advancing how future educators are prepared to serve Iowa’s PreK–12 schools.
The Carver Trust grant expands student access to five new educational technology collections offered through the studio, which teacher candidates can use to enrich their coursework, clinical experiences and student teaching. Located in the Schindler Education Center, the TEACH (Teacher Education and Collaborative Hub) Studio was developed through a partnership between the College of Education and Rod Library.
As Iowa’s leader in teacher education, UNI prepares more than 500 teaching graduates each year and serves nearly 2,000 teacher candidates annually seeking licensure across 41 endorsement areas. With this investment, the TEACH Studio will play a central role in embedding technology-rich teaching and learning within teacher preparation — one outcome of a recent curricular redesign, the first in more than 20 years.
“Rather than treating technology as a standalone skill, we recognized the value of integrating digital and assistive technology throughout the degree pathway,” said Dean Colleen Mulholland, College of Education. “This grant supports our efforts to provide resources and experiences that elevate the curriculum and better align with the realities of today’s classrooms. The Carver Trust’s investment further strengthens the quality teacher education we provide for Iowa and beyond.”
The grant supports five modular TEACH Studio collections — Access & Adapt, Create & Communicate, Code & Construct, Design & Display, and Tech on the Go. Together, the collections offer technologies ranging from accessible coding and STEM kits designed for early learners to tools that support ADA-aligned access and help UNI students create and deliver video-rich lessons.
“We’re really excited about our Tech on the Go collection. Use of this technology reinforces the connection between coursework and classroom experience as our students apply it in real-world settings,” said Dean Theresa Westbrock, Rod Library.
“The partnership between the library and the college has already made a meaningful difference for so many of our students,” she added. “We’re grateful that Carver recognized the years of work and deep dedication behind this project and is supporting us as we take it to the next level.”
The grant expands the capabilities of the studio space, which was newly renamed when the model media center and library reopened last summer in the Schindler Education Center after a reimagining by college and library leadership, faculty, staff and students. In addition to its technology resources, the space includes a presentation room, classroom, UNI’s full youth literature collection, and comfortable areas for individual and small-group study.
Since reopening as the TEACH Studio, the space has welcomed more than 17,000 visitors and circulated nearly 6,000 materials.
Through continued innovation in curriculum and learning environments, UNI is strengthening Iowa’s educator pipeline and preparing teachers who are ready to meet the evolving needs of students, schools and communities across the state.
