Central Standard-On Education poster
The general public is invited to attend a free screening and discussion of “Central Standard: On Education,” the web series produced by award-winning Chicago public broadcasting station WTTW and Scrappers Film Group on Wednesday, Feb. 25 at the Newberry Library, 60 West Walton Street in Chicago.
Northern Illinois University sponsors the series, which follows the personal stories of five eighth graders from different parts of Chicago and different backgrounds as they prepare for the highly competitive selective high school enrollment process.
A reception and hands-on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics) presentation begins at 4:30 p.m., featuring Pati Sievert, director of NIU STEM Outreach, and Gillian King-Cargile, outreach and engagement communications coordinator. Sievert and King-Cargile will demonstrate innovative ways to infuse science, technology, engineering, arts and math into the classroom.
Christine Malecki
Following the screening, there will be a panel discussion featuring Scrappers filmmakers Ben Ashby and Brian Kolak, NIU Professor and School Psychology Program Director Christine Malecki and Felicia Bohanon, director of the Office of Precollegiate Programs at NIU.
Jennifer Berne, chair of the NIU College of Education‘s Department of Literacy and Elementary Education, said “Central Standard: On Education” is of interest to educators and non-educators alike.
“It illuminates both the specific processes involved in selective high school enrollment and the social, cultural, and economic issues that surround educational accessibility,” Berne said.
The event is free but reservations are required.
