NEED - Implement Change
Process: Consortium members recognize that equipment for IT exists in schools
and that it is not extensively, or effectively, used. But, we find it far more significant
to create a vision for implementation of IT based on recognizing the rate of change
in applications of technology. Whatever the projections for the future, the fact is
that we will be using IT tools one, two, and three years from now that are not
available - and that we cannot envision - today. It is on this reality that consortium
members have chosen to focus this Implementation Grant on an on-going change process that
will carry us into the future by fostering continual adaptation to, and integration of, IT
into instruction.
NEED - Transform Teaching and
Learning: Changes in the use of technology throughout society present a force that
educators cannot ignore - changes that will cause a transformation in the nature of our
educational system and opportunity to achieve this vision. The challenge we accept is
to assure beginning teachers are reflective educators who will utilize IT and collaborative
inquiry to assist their students in developing information processing skills and attitudes of
inquiry for life-long learning while gaining knowledge for their personal goals.
NEED - Transform the Thinking and
Actions
of
Teacher Educators: Technological applications in society present both a stimulus
and an opportunity to fundamentally change the nature of the curriculum, but this requires
a fundamental change in the thinking of teacher educators. We accept the challenge of
fundamentally changing the teacher/learning process through which teachers are initially
prepared for entry into the profession and to guiding their work through a one to two year
induction program during their initial years of teaching. This will be accomplished by design
and implementation of course, induction, and mentoring IT based materials and processes for
laptop computers that all students entering our teacher education programs will be required
to purchase.
NEED - Assure Multicultural and Global
Thinking: At UMM we have become known for assuring our graduates have a global perspective
on their profession and are effective educators in multi-cultural communities and schools
by ensuring that our graduates complete student teaching in a community that is significantly
different from their own. We accept the challenge to utilize IT to expand participation in
our multi-cultural world for beginning teachers of all cultural backgrounds. We will
accomplish this through collaborative instruction and program development with colleagues
in P-16 schools across the U.S. and around the world.
NEED - Support Rural Development: With the impact of
new technologies and other issues raising concern in rural communities about their survival,
it is essential for young people in our rural area to be prepared to use the technological
tools of the twenty-first century. This will be accomplished by implementing a long-term
curricular change process based on infusion of appropriate and effective use of all forms
of information technologies into instruction throughout the P-16 curriculum of teacher
education, liberal arts disciplines, and partner schools.
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