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Purpose
& Objectives
The
College of Education, through the Oklahoma State Department
of Education, has received a federal grant (Fund for the
Improvement of Education – FIE) that will provide handheld
computing devices and educational software to the eighth
graders at Western Oaks Middle School and the ninth and
tenth graders at Putnam City West High. The name of the grant is PALS (Personal Access=Learning Success).
Curriculum classes for this program will begin
in Spring 2003.
The
Oklahoma State Department of Education is partnering with
College of Education at the University of Central Oklahoma
who shares the belief that handheld computing devices
provide the answer to the need for a truly “personal”
computer for every child.
A “personal” computer means that the student has
technology ready for him/her to use whenever and wherever
needed. It
also means that no one else is going to be using that
technology and inadvertently erasing or altering someone
else’s information.
Professional
development and teacher education is an important piece
of PALS II with the University of Central Oklahoma helping
to develop a handheld curriculum for pre-service teachers.
As a leading educator of 2,000 teacher education
students each year, the University of Central College
of Education recognizes the need to prepare future teachers
to utilize all technology tools available to enhance student
learning.
Benefits
Some
of the things students will do using the handheld computers
include:
- conduct
scholarly investigations which will emphasize problem
solving and teamwork skills that allow students to research,
conduct information analysis, and visualize certain
complex concepts;
- use
probes attached to the handheld computers to gather
data in scientific investigations (i.e., temperature,
light, pH, chemical and physical pollution);
- use
spreadsheet software developed specifically for handheld
computers to record and analyze data; learn organizational
skills by using their handheld computers to keep track
of assignments, deadlines, and activities.
Teachers
will also :
- learn
to use the handheld computers, software, and probes
so that they can develop appropriate and engaging unit
plans;
- develop
unit plans that require students to identify problems,
use their handheld computers to gather information,
collect and analyze data, and finally, propose solutions
t those problems;
- keep
track of student grades and assignments to help determine
the success of the PALS program;
- Help
students adopt a daily organizational procedure of recording
assignments, deadlines, and activities in their computers
and of checking their online “to-do” lists and calendars
regularly.
Timeline
- Beginning
in summer 2002, UCO faculty teaching Instructional Technology
and the various methods courses will be trained on the
use of handheld computers and how to incorporate this
technology into the curriculum.
- Beginning
in August 2002, UCO faculty will begin to modify curriculum
in six courses to include handheld technologies.
- Beginning
in January 2003, the inclusion of handheld computer
technology will be present in teacher education courses
at UCO.
- UCO
teacher education students will complete field experiences
in the Putnam City School District.
- By
spring 2003, LME 3312 Instructional Technology and the
other methods courses at UCO will include integration
of handheld computer technology.
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