Proof of Concept Grant Proposal Expanding Pre-service Teachers Use of Technology: Portable Media Devices, Pedagogy & Best Practices
Introduction This project will provide ipods (portable media device) for pre-service teachers (students) to enable them to access otherwise potentially unavailable resources and contribute to online resources and learning communities associated with the development of pedagogical knowledge. Additionally, the expanded pre-service teacher’s access (with the ipod) will afford them the opportunity to experience and develop resources in locations other than the classroom and on-campus. The pre-service teachers will gain hands-on experience in how to construct knowledge representations, amass instructional resources for their students, and differentiate instruction. The ipods will further allow pre-service teacher educators to understand how to deliver and augment instruction in a more flexible, dynamic, and active manner – a valuable future skill.
Project Description This pilot project will involve the use of ipods by 45pre-service teachers per semester enrolled in required courses at the University of North Dakota in the College of Education and Human Development: Technology for Teachers and Methods & Materials. The students will be grouped and issued an ipod the first week of the courses, for the first half of the semester. The Technology for Teachers course is taught in the fall, spring and summer sessions each year. There are four sections of Technology for Teachers per semester and two sections will use the ipods each semester. The Methods & Materials course has two sections each semester and one section will use the ipods. The pre-service teachers in these courses will learn how to teach, integrate technology, and employ solid classroom management skills. Within this context, this proposed pilot project will include learning experiences focused on four tracks: (1) increased pedagogical skills, (2) expanded access to and use of subject matter area material (3) increased use and understanding of a (portable media devices) for instructional purposes and (4) reflective practice/professional development.
Learning experiences supporting the students’ expertise in pedagogy will include the flexible delivery of course related materials (podcasts), including critical information from lectures/readings, interviews, subject matter information, and constructive self reviews of their teaching. Individually and in small groups, students will work both on and off campus given the increased access to course related materials during the semester. Additionally, students will be expected to construct their own instructional materials and present them as demonstrations of their pedagogical understanding of subject matter as well as their ability to create and use portable media in schools settings appropriate to the grade levels they aspire to teach.
The students enrolled in the Technology for Teachers will be the “teacher” for the students enrolled in the Methods & Materials course for facilitation of technology lessons about podcast creation, existing resources, fairs use, copy right and overall functionality of the (portable media device). The students, with the faculty member, will prepare an activity-based unit and teach it to the students in the Methods course. The Technology for Teachers will be video recorded during the instructional time for reflective practice. The students enrolled in the Methods & Materials course will be audio or video recorded presenting a completed technology lesson and reflect on the use of technology.
The video recording of peer teaching and presentations recording will be developed into “vodcast,” for students and faculty members to access through the course managements system Blackboard. Activities supporting reflective practice will include, but are not to be limited to, production of the vodcast of students’ teaching and also an audio recording of their assessment of their own teaching. With the students’ permission, the teaching vodcasts will be shared between both courses as well as the audio self assessments.
The ipod may not only be a flexible tool for teaching, learning, and self reflection, but given its ubiquitous nature, it is timely to have a meaningful exploration of the array of pre-service teacher program related experiences it may augment or enhance. Use of ipods will increase student access to existing resources for teaching and other course related materials. Additionally is will provide an opportunity for pre-service teachers to construct their own instructional materials using media related technologies for integration into their teaching.
The iphone, a new product, combines three products into one multifunction hand held device – a mobile phone, widescreen ipod with touch controls, and internet communication with desktop-class email, web browsing, maps, and searching This component of the project is for the faculty member(s) to begin exploring the multifunction handheld devices’ potential use in instruction with a focus on development of policies and practices that should be considered prior to implementation at the department, college or institutional level. This information will be integrated into the courses. It will also offer the opportunity for the Higher Education Administration courses to operate a multifunction portable media device and contribute to identifying issues that should be considered when establishing polices at the department, college or campus level.
As with any device, particularly hand held multifunction devices, the ability to connect and communicate anytime, anywhere may incur unanticipated costs, liabilities or unintended consequences. This aspect of the project will examine and document the critical and non critical considerations.
Assessment & Outcomes Assessment will occur though the following:
Schedule Summer 2007
Fall 2007
Spring 2008
Impact The Proof of Concept will demonstrate applications of portable media devices (ipods) for teaching and learning; provide hand-on experience with technology and individual expression within an academic context. Students will prepare oral recordings reflecting on their experiences of becoming a teacher and use current hand-held technology to support best practices. The college newsletter that is sent to alumni will include a feature article on the pilot project as well as reporting at local and regional conferences. Most importantly, students will have an opportunity to experience and develop materials that will become part of their electronic portfolio, aid them in preparing or student teaching, and ultimately contribute to their professional lives.
Innovation The pilot project is innovative due to its focused use of portable media devices within an academic context in majors where technology is rarely provided for experimentation and development as part of a course component. Pre-service teachers will have an opportunity not otherwise available to them. Exploring the capabilities of the ipod coupled with the creative minds of pre-service teachers holds the potential to demonstrate the value or lack of value to enhance learning. The use of portable media devices used in the practice of teaching has an immediate and beneficial impact and offers undergraduate research component as well.
Feasibility The scope of the proposal and the schedule are very feasible and success of the project very high. Dr. Smart has over 20 years experience in instructional technology in both education and industry. As a secondary faculty member in teacher education with strong ties to the local schools, Dr. Pearson, directs the Social Studies program and leads civic education initiatives across that state that includes programs on American Indian Reservations.
Technology Transfer and Outreach All project information will reside on the website and workshops will be offered to faculty in the college on integrating hand-held technology into their curriculum. The College website will also have a link to the project. UND has a regional technology conference and a proposal will be submitted to present. An invitation for a seminar for K-12 teachers in the local community will be offered and that increases the likelihood of additional research projects for teachers in a Master’s degree program in the College.
Leverage Dr. Smart and Dr. Pearson have applied for a Student Technology Fee for $12,000.00 in Feb. 2007 (award notification in April) which would provide more student ipods. With the University having an excellent infrastructure, the College has computer labs and wireless access throughout the building.
Collaboration Dr. Kathy Smart and Dr. Donna Pearson will work jointly on the pilot project and enlist other faculty in the department of Teaching & Learning and Higher Education to review materials and provide input/review. The project holds the promise of being expanded into the College of Education, but also the College of Arts and Sciences. Often working together, these two colleges have the largest combined campus enrollments and embrace technology explorations and use.
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| This project is funded by the Northwest Academic Computing Consortium  |
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