WSU has new project to EXCITE teachers

By Julie Rausch

Inside WSU

A senior in elementary education, Barbara Ward, standing, shows 5-year-olds Malika and Brian and preschool teacher Jilan Brown from Mueller Elementary how to use a popular kid’s software. Ward is a technology mentor in WSU’s new "Project EXCITE: Expanding Curriculum Integration Through Technology Education." Mentors will work with WSU faculty and teachers and students in partnering Wichita schools to integrate technology into the classroom.

As technology be comes an integral part of American classrooms, new standards for training teachers must be met.

WSU’s education students are playing a key role in partnering with faculty to integrate technology into teacher training, thanks to a grant everyone’s excited about.

The $111,184 grant from the U.S. Department of Education for "Project EXCITE: Expanding Curriculum Integration Through Technology Education" couldn’t have come at a better time.

Prior to applying for the grant, teacher education faculty had started assessing and aligning their curriculum to meet new technology standards required by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education.

One problem in schools as well as at WSU is that teachers don’t know how to use much of the software that’s already been purchased, said Marsha Gladhart, the College of Education’s Webmaster and Project EXCITE coordinator.

"We realized we first needed to develop the technology skills among teacher education faculty," Gladhart said. "We want faculty to be able to use the technology, know its applications and integrate it into the classrooms. The ultimate goal, however, is to develop technologically proficient students."

To help with that, six teacher education students have been selected as technology mentors to work primarily with WSU faculty, but also with teachers and students in partnering Wichita schools.

A few technologically proficient faculty and graduate students in the college train the mentors who, in turn, get paid to provide ongoing support to faculty on special classroom technology projects. The faculty get customized training depending on their needs.

Later during the year, five workshops by Apple Computer on multimedia and the Internet will be held for WSU faculty, partner schools and mentors as part of the grant.

Gladhart said they’ve gotten several faculty requests for Web page design, PowerPoint and video editing.

One student mentor is working with a mathematics professor evaluating software for the classroom.

Associate professor of music Elaine Bernstorf is working with a student mentor on a Web site for a class in the special music education program. Bernstorf has multiple purposes for her site. She communicates with students in her special education class and graduates in the field by sharing current events, legislative changes impacting special ed and posting links to other Web sites.

"It also may be a good recruiting tool," Bernstorf said. "We are one of only two or three universities in the United States with a special music education program. By having a Web site we can provide information to this specialized area."

Bernstorf’s mentor, Brandi Biggs, helped her explore Blackboard, and she is learning about FrontPage to see if it will be the best for her needs. Blackboard provides various features to support courses online, while FrontPage is a Web page development tool.

"She is wonderful," Bernstorf said. "She’s taking my goals and doing the legwork to find out the best way to set up a Web site that does what I need. I’m sure ultimately that I will learn how to do all of this for myself, but it’s like someone who takes the time to map out several routes for a trip, and then let’s you choose the one that fits your needs. Then the next time, you can plan your own trip more easily."

Another student mentor, Barbara Ward, is assigned to partner school Mueller Elementary. Ward, a senior elementary education major, has been working with the popular instructional software called Kid Pix. Since December, Ward has been teaching Kid Pix to first- and third-grade classrooms and with 4-year-olds in the school’s preschool program.

Kid Pix includes activity kits with lessons such as "My Body" where students learn to identify and locate internal organs and discover ways to have healthy bodies.

"Education in this way is a fun playtime where students can explore, discover, problem solve and create while learning about areas within mathematics, science, social studies and writing," Ward said.

Students can design jack-o-lanterns, decorate Christmas trees, create slide shows, work with patterns, identify rocks, create maps and graphs, build a house, sort sea animals, and write and illustrate stories.

Although the program is a lot of fun to work with, Ward said, she spends a lot of time exploring Kid Pix and its applications. Then there’s following lessons plans, coordinating with the teacher and adjusting the teaching level to fit the abilities of various age groups, including the classroom teachers.

Nationally, 138 colleges, universities and school districts, were awarded EXCITE grants. WSU is planning to submit a proposal for the next phase, which could bring in $300,000 to support technology.

"It’s built so much excitement about technology, and the awareness level has increased," Gladhart said. "It also has increased communication among faculty members because we have a common goal in meeting the standards."