SANFORD - Central Carolina Community College (CCCC) has been awarded $30,000 in grant funds to support vocational education instruction.

"These funds are designated for instructional quality enhancement," said John Slade, CCCC vice president of instruction. "Some of the specific professional development topics we have in mind are topics such as today's students and their connection to technology and problem-based learning."

The project is called Enhancing Instructional Quality and it will address numerous issues related to instruction throughout the year.

Five objectives will guide the project. Through sessions and materials provided, participants will: learn how to promote a student-centered learning environment; increase their knowledge and understanding of different approaches to learning; build skills in the selection of technologies to fit their specific instructional style; explore instructional strategies, such as problem-based learning, and discover ways to incorporate these strategies into their classes; and gain a better understanding of how to make instruction more accessible to different types of learners.

" Participants will explore some of the hottest topics in vocational education and acquire skills for immediate use in the classroom," said Celia Hurley, CCCC distance education coordinator.

" We are particularly pleased that we are able to partner with the League for Innovation in the Community College to provide several of the presentations."

Hurley said the program will not be limited to CCCC faculty. "By inviting faculty from across the North Carolina Community College System to participate in the sessions and conference, CCCC is making a statewide impact on faculty development with a very limited budget," she said.

Slade said funds for the project, which is intended to make classroom instruction more relevant and interactive, are limited to vocational instructors and instruction.

All funds must be used in accordance with Title I, Section 124 of the Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Technical Education Act of 1998.