Story Ideas for Media: 8-23-2010

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Ohio State's news, experts and events give you more on the news


Story Ideas for Media 8/23/10

News

$6 million federal grant will help early childhood education in Ohio. Ohio State University has received a $6 million federal grant to help determine if professional development for preschool teachers in Ohio will translate into better-prepared kindergarten students.
The grant from the U.S Department of Education will allow researchers to study 900 early childhood teachers in the state who complete specially designed professional development courses developed by the Ohio Department of Education and the Early Childhood Quality Network (ecQ-net), located at Ohio State. The goal is to see if these courses can affect teachers’ knowledge, beliefs and practices.
At the same time, 4,800 of these teachers’ students will be monitored during preschool and then again in kindergarten to see if training for teachers leads to improved foundational skills for reading.
“We want to find out the extent to which professional development for preschool teachers actually impacts children’s gains in the classroom,” said Shayne Piasta, leader of the new project, and the assistant director of Ohio State’s Children’s Learning Research Collaborative. CONTACT: Jeff Grabmeier, (614) 292-8457; Grabmeier.1@osu.edu. SEE: http://www.osu.edu/news/newsitem2859

Research

Warning system inadequate to prevent swimmers from getting sick at inland lakes. New research shows a clear link between increasing levels of E. coli bacteria in an inland Ohio lake and a greater risk that swimmers in the water will suffer a gastrointestinal illness. Timothy Buckley, associate professor and chair of environmental health sciences at Ohio State and senior author of the study, says there is a hitch: The current testing method that measures E. coli levels at beaches takes at least 18 hours, so any swimming advisory based on that information is posted at least a day too late. CONTACT: Timothy Buckley, (614) 293-7161; tbuckley@cph.osu.edu or Jason Marion, marion.25@osu.edu SEE: http://researchnews.osu.edu/archive/sicklake.htm.

Events

Media availability to discuss Ohio State’s 2010 home football season – Aug. 26. A media availability highlighting plans for the Buckeyes’ 2010 home football season, including the weekday home opener vs. Marshall, will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday (8/26) in the Ohio Stadium conference room located inside Gate 32 on the third floor.
The briefing will provide an opportunity for media to gather important information and interviews with key Ohio State officials working to ensure that Ohio State football is enjoyed in a fun, safe and family-friendly atmosphere for all guests.
Officials attending include Sarah Blouch, director for Transportation and Parking Services; Mike Penner, associate athletics director for event management; Brett Scarbrough, senior director for ticketing; and Paul Denton, chief of University Police. Neal Majumber, student president of the Ohio State Sportsmanship Council will also be available to discuss the “Best Fans in the Land” campaign. CONTACT: Liz Cook, (614) 292-7276.

Columbus mayor will address summer graduates – August 29. Columbus Mayor Michael B. Coleman will speak at Ohio State’s summer quarter commencement, which begins at 1 p.m. on Sunday, (8/29) at the Jerome Schottenstein Center. About 1,800 students will receive degrees during the ceremony. Honorary doctorates will be presented to Lord Charles Henry Plumb, a British public servant and lifelong advocate for farmers and agriculture, and commencement speaker Michael Coleman. the university will confer Distinguished Service Awards on Jack Chester, senior partner in the Columbus law firm of Chester, Willcox & Saxbe LLP; and posthumously to Virginia Zirkle, in recognition of her six decades of service to her alma mater as a home economist at the Putnam County Ohio State Extension. CONTACT: Amy Murray, (614) 292-8385.

The person listed as the CONTACT will have the most current information about the story. Call on our media relations staff for help with any Ohio State story: Liz Cook, (614) 292-7276 or cook.17@osu.edu; Shelly Hoffman, (614) 247-4748 or hoffman.511@osu.edu; Jim Lynch, (614) 247-4110 or lynch.270@osu.edu; or Amy Murray, (614) 292-8385 or murray-goedde.1@osu.edu

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