School of Education Takes Lead in Educational Technology

 

by Dr. John A. Kinslow

Department of Professional and Secondary Education

“Educational technology is rapidly becoming the teachers’ most important teaching tool and West Chester University will take a leadership role in assisting pre-service and in-service teachers to learn to use that tool”, according to Ellen Newcombe, the School of Education’s Technology Coordinator.   “Recently, we received more than $150,000 from the U.S. Department of Education's new grant program, Preparing Tomorrow's Teachers to Use Technology and combined it with more than $190,000 from the University.  The grant money is being used to buy equipment, train members of the faculty, integrate technology into the teacher education program and, at the same time, share successful educational technology strategies in partnerships with area schools,” Ms. Newcombe explained.

The University-School Educational Technology Partnerships grant program helps ensure that more than 600 teacher education students who earn WCU academic degrees each year know how to integrate technology effectively into their classroom instruction.  The first year's activities will lay the foundation for ultimately achieving a two-part goal: the modeling of technology integration by University faculty in both methods and content area courses; and the achievement of specified technology competencies by preservice teachers.  The program will provide WCU graduates with the versatility and skills necessary to use technology successfully in their classrooms.  “We need to model teaching which will prepare students for the information and technology-rich age of the twenty-first century.  Students need not only to know how to use a computer, but how to integrate technology into their lives - powerfully and intelligently”, said an enthusiastic Dr. Marlene Goss of the Professional and Secondary Education Department, when asked to comment on the program.

WCU will also soon offer a Teaching and Learning with Technology Certificate program.  The program which is now in the final stages of approval is designed to meet the current needs of practicing K-12 teachers who want to attain advanced competency in the use of educational technology. It focuses on constructing an enriched educational environment with sound curricular ideas. Students will learn to design and sustain technology-enriched learning environments that meet the needs of their pupils.  While this is not a state certification program, the curriculum meets both the National Educational Technology standards and the International Society for Technology in Education standards that have been adopted by The National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education.

Lastly, a new demonstration classroom created in Recitation Hall will model effective use of cutting-edge technologies in a supportive classroom setting.   The model classroom will include two-way video via high speed lines; internet and computer tools network-accessed at multiple stations; a midi/computer music station; a new "smart board" and projection system for student and teacher presentations; state-of-the-art audio and video capability; and a station for demonstrating assistive technology.  The demonstration classroom and the attached Faculty Technology Center, directed by Mrs. Ellen Newcombe, will enable WCU faculty to be in the vanguard of technology-using teachers.