Iowa State University


Inside Iowa State
July 7, 2000

Classroom technology

Center trains current and future teachers to take advantage of new innovations

by Anne Krapfl
The tough thing about classroom technology, Denise Schmidt would be the first to tell you, is that it doesn't make lesson planning or class preparation any easier. In fact, it adds an element of potential failure if the technology breaks down, leaving the instructor to "wing it."

Still, this former elementary school teacher now has a career exploring and encouraging the use of all forms of educational technology "and really pushing it to the edge." Schmidt is the associate director of the Center for Technology in Learning and Teaching in the College of Education. The center performs all the duties one might associate with a land-grant university, she said: familiarizing about 900 elementary education majors and 500 secondary education certification students with the technology and, more importantly, teaching them what they can do with it in the classroom; providing training to licensed teachers around the state; and conducting research on all sorts of technology-related proposals.

Located in the basement level of Lagomarcino Hall, the center includes laboratory classrooms, a curriculum library, an Internet 2 distance learning facility, and a multipurpose service laboratory. In the latter, students can preview more than 400 pieces of computer software used in grades K-12, everything from writing poetry to dissecting a frog.

In February, the curriculum and instruction department received the "Best Practice Award" for innovative use of technology from the American Association of Colleges of Teacher Education. The national award recognizes efforts to model innovative uses of technology for those entering the teaching profession -- actually changing the way teachers are pre-pared through the use of technology.

"Iowa State is a wonderful place to be right now. We're becoming a national leader preparing students to use technology effectively in class-rooms," Schmidt said.

Another example of that progress is a three-year, $1.47 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education that Schmidt helped secure this year. Center staff and department faculty are partnering with a variety of groups -- including North Polk and King Perkins (Des Moines) schools, Heartland Area Education Agency and the colleges of Engineering and Liberal Arts and Sciences -- to give professional teachers and ISU students opportunities to use the newest computer technology in classrooms and integrate technology into teacher education courses.


Eyes on the curve
The center replaced the college's former Instructional Resource Center about four years ago, as digital technology and its reliance on computers grew. Gone from the center are the 16mm film projectors, filmstrip projectors and all but one video editing machine of yesteryear.

"Anyone who thinks they'll get away from technology isn't thinking very far," Schmidt said. "I try to remind them, 'You can't only think about the classroom this year or next fall. Think about the classroom in 2015.' While we can't stay ahead of the curve that far, it's important to prepare teachers to know how to change and to accommodate change."

School districts in Iowa vary tremendously in their adoption of classroom technologies, Schmidt said. Some schools have labs as current as anything at Iowa State; others operate with a single computer station per classroom. Education students leaving Iowa State have to be ready to roll in either environment, she said.

"If our students get into a district that isn't as up-to- date, at least they have a vision. They know from us the importance of grant-writing and they'll know what to ask for. But if the norm there is a one-computer class-room, they have to know how to best use that one computer."

Schmidt is one of three P&S staff who received the first Outstanding New Professional Award this spring. The award honors relatively new Iowa State employees (on the job five years or less) who make a big impact in a short time. Schmidt was recognized for assistance in designing and implementing the vision for the center, helping teachers around the state and hard work on behalf of Iowa State students, evidenced in extra activities such as The Education Computing Club, which she advises.

The 50 or so education students in the club each year get a few additional opportunities to hone -- and share -- their skills.

Members volunteer at Ames elementary schools to help students with computer projects. They also assist with mini- workshops offered as part of ISU classes and provide one-on- one time to education students and faculty members who ask for assistance.


Nearly painless experience
Iowa State students who are preparing to become teachers remain a priority at the center, but it also serves other students in the College of Education and Iowa K-12 teachers.

"We hope they see technology as an integral part of their curricula, not an 'add-on,'" Schmidt said, noting that sometimes the starting point is encouraging teachers to let go of their comfortable, read-the-chapter-and-answer-the- questions style of teaching. "We try to make it as painless as possible for teachers to receive training."

For example, Schmidt will provide on-site training at schools. She demonstrates the teaching and technology and explains the instructional theory behind each. The center also has a competitive grant program that pays for substitute teachers so class-room teachers can work one-on-one with Schmidt and others in schools.

Schmidt recalls the days before digital technology was the medium, when she used to do dozens of one-time workshops in schools all over the state. One-shot doesn't work as well anymore, she said. The technology requires follow-up and continued use over time to gain a level of confidence.

For the last several years, the center has had visitors from other teacher education colleges. Schmidt said she hopes that's more than just a compliment to the progress the curriculum and instruction department has made.

"We really hope others are serious about providing facilities like this for their students," she said. "In the meantime, we'll just keep evolving. We want to keep offering the best possibilities for our students."

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