CEHD News

This fall, some education courses have become highly interactive with the installation of new state-of-the-art technology in one of the college’s classrooms.

The equipment is the latest in audio and video classroom technology. South Western Communications partnered with Promethean, Dukane, and LightSPEED to create an ACTIVclassroom, which integrates several audio and video components through wireless technology, and a Dukane projection system, which directly projects documents without the need for transparencies. LightSPEED Technologies donated the audio amplification system that uses infrared technology to reduce ambient noise for better student concentration.

The new system will give education students a more comprehensive learning experience in their courses. A central part of the system is the Promethean interactive wireless whiteboard and wireless portable tablet that replaces the traditional chalkboard. These enable professors to create more dynamic and engaging lessons.

Another feature allows students to use hand-held wireless devices to participate in quick surveys and give immediate feedback on their understanding of the material covered.

Sara Kajder, assistant professor of literacy education, said the technology enables her to pull resources into her course, Reading and Writing in Content Areas, as students are working in a class period as opposed to scheduling labs weeks ahead. This allows her to teach responsibly and weave technology transparently into instruction.

“In the past, I have used videoconferencing and other Internet tools in my class, but I now can do so in real time as topics are raised and discussion occurs,” Kajder said. “Where we have technologies we continually use, such as collaborative wikis (text that is viewable and able to be edited directly online) and student weblogs, we can also do things on the fly, which allows us to access and create online content that amplifies student learning.”

An increasing number of school systems across the nation are installing similar technologies into their classrooms. Therefore, education students are more likely to encounter the same type of equipment after graduation.

Kajder said the college’s adoption of the advanced system makes it easier to teach education students how to incorporate technology to enhance the delivery of subject content to their own students.

“With the new equipment, we are now providing our students with the experiences that empower them to become comfortable with the types of technologies that are out there for classroom instruction,” she said. “We can show them how this technology can help them think about content and teaching in new and different ways.”

Having a state-of-the-art system allows professors to show students that integrating technology into classroom lessons does not require a new way of teaching. “Technology serves as a catalyst for innovation in how we teach, but it builds on current teaching practices with which teachers are comfortable,” Kajder said. “The system is an easy entry point to doing new things in the classroom with new technology.”

The new system positions the college to become the leader in developing students who can thrive in an educational environment that increasingly is dependent on technology, Kajder said. “This is significant for the College of Education and Human Development because it allows us to set the bar for immersive, high-tech education,” she said.

For more information about the ACTIVclassroom, contact Paula Campbell in the Dean’s Office of the College of Education at 502-852-0566.