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Conceptual Framework
Teachers as Educational Leaders
Technology
The College of St. Catherine supports the development of a technology-infused teacher education program in many ways. A solid infrastructure is already in place. This includes a schedule for maintaining and updating computing equipment every three to five years; a computer help desk that answers more than 200 faculty and student calls a week; technology equipment such as projection systems and LCD panels, (which are available on a check out basis for faculty and student use); and fully equipped computer laboratories on campus that includes one in Mendel Hall. The second floor of Mendel Hall, where teacher education programs are located, has been given priority attention in the area of instructional technology. Since fall 2000, three of the main Education Department classrooms have been re-designed to include wired tables, overhead digital projectors and electronic white boards. The staff in Computing Services continue to work closely with the Education Department to enhance the teaching/learning experience for both faculty and students.
Since 1999, when the Education Department was awarded a Preparing Tomorrow’s Teaching to use Technology (PT3) Capacity Building Grant and a small College grant ($5000), we have greatly increased our expertise in technology. As a women’s College, we feel an additional responsibility to provide our students with strong and positive modeling in technology.
The College of St. Catherine recognizes that women, people of color, and those who live in rural areas are often victims of “the digital divide.” Leslie Bennetts in Digital Divide (1999) described two divides-- one relates to class and the other relates to the gap between men and women. The College of St. Catherine is dedicated to the empowerment of women and to a mission of social justice that is the hallmark of the College’s founding members, the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet. The Education Department seeks to promote social justice of all kinds through the development of teacher leaders who can change the direction of P-12 education toward empowering all people. Technology literacy is viewed as an essential component of such an education.
Beginning in fall 2001, all prospective teachers in the Education Department will be provided with an IBM ThinkPad through a lease-to-buy program required by the College. The Education Department is pleased that we are the first (and only) department on campus that will require all students to participate in this program. Vice President Mary Margaret Smith and former Director of Computing Services Ken Baltes approached the Education Department in fall 2000 with this concept. It was their thinking (and the Education Department quickly concurred) that the teacher education program was a perfect setting to pilot such a requirement because the Education Department had already demonstrated a strong commitment to technology and viewed technology as an educational imperative.
With this in mind, The College of St. Catherine is taking a giant leap by requiring all initial licensure teacher education students to participate in a laptop lease program beginning in fall 2001. We believe that all prospective teachers must view their computer as a natural learning tool similar to books, pens, paper, and notebooks.
In preparation for our laptop initiative, the department analyzed the technology-related assignments and expectations currently embedded in our courses. Based on this analysis, we revised some of our offerings so that we are using technology to increase student learning, focus on higher order thinking and problem-solving skills, and improve personal productivity. The following chart indicates the types of experiences that all students will have in their initial licensure courses:
Course | Computer Software or Program* | Purpose |
| Teachers as Educational Leaders | Powerpoint
Lotus Notes | Use portfolio template to create an electronic portfolio; communicate with instructor via email. |
| General Methods (Elementary and Secondary) | Grade Book | Create a grade book for recording and analyzing student progress |
| Literature for Children | Microsoft Access | Create a database of children’s literature. |
| School Health and Chemical Health | Online course | Use interactive technology |
| Literacy in the Content Areas | WebQuest
Graphic design tools | Use the internet to link to learning experiences; create graphic organizers |
| Discipline specific methods courses | Microsoft Excel | Create a spreadsheet to enter and analyze data for use with p-12 learners and for personal productivity. |
* Students will be expected to word process all assignments and perform simple computing tasks such as cutting, pasting and editing documents. Eventually, all students will create hyperlinks and import graphics, sound and video clips.
Using their required laptops, our students will create an electronic portfolio that will provide evidence of their professional growth and development. The following fall (2002), just prior to student teaching, they will participate in a Portfolio Assessment Event. This event will provide students with the opportunity to share their portfolio with faculty from the College and P-12 educational community.
Our laptop requirement is not included in the advanced programs. Our commitment to technology at that level is evident but less strategic. This will be an area that we will develop in the next few years. As we accumulate successes in curricular technology at the initial licensure level, it will be easier for us to infuse similar experiences into our advanced programs. Because the vast majority of our students are seeking initial licensure, we directed our attention in that area first.
We believe that technology should be used as a tool to increase learning and productivity across the educational continuum (P-18) for both students and teachers. We model this throughout our programs. |