Wichita State University's College of Education faculty have been engaged in activities to introduce greater technology integration into the pre-service teacher education program. Accomplishing this infusion will require resources for Models, Mentors, and Mobility. 

Project M3 pre-service teachers will see models of meaningful ways technology can be used in their subjects to help students reach standards of achievement. They will be provided mentors who know and understand technology and who are using technology effectively.

And finally, to overcome the mobility problem of technology not being available in the classroom, Project M3 will use wireless technology, mobile carts of laptop computers and handheld computers to bring technology to students rather than students to technology..

When learning to teach, most often we emulate the way we were taught ourselves: chalk and talk, textbooks, paper and pencil worksheets. When we ask faculty and students to integrate technology into instruction, we are asking them to do something that they themselves may never have experienced. 

The first “M” in Project M3 is Models: By WSU faculty modeling appropriate use of technology in their classrooms, students would see how technology might be used. If students experienced the use of technology in their own coursework, they would feel comfortable using it themselves and in classrooms when they teach

For faculty to successfully model technology integration, they need to understand how technology works and how it can be integrated. Project M3 offers training for WSU faculty and students to enhance their skills and technological comfort. In addition, the grant provides several mechanisms to develop curricula for teacher education classes and grade level and content area groups in schools.

One successful mechanism of technology integration has been TIPS: Technology Integration Projects for Students. It is also a model of collaboration between a college of education and a school district as WSU faculty, pre-service students and Wichita, KS teachers came together to create model lesson plans and units based on curriculum standards.The focus of these activities is the curriculum being taught in the district supported by content area standards. During three separate semester-long sessions, subjects covered have been science, health, math and social studies.

Integration of technology is a key to the successful implementation of these activities. Technology is integrated to support, enhance and extend the curriculum and provide a tool for research, analysis, communication and creativity. The activities take into account content area standards, district benchmark and ISTE NET*S (National Education Technology Standards for Students).

For specific project examples and more information about how TIPS was organized and implemented, visit our web site at www.wichita.edu/education/m3/tips

Project M3 is developing and coordinating a broad-based network of mentors that provide one-on-one training and support for Teacher Education, Liberal Arts and Fine Arts faculty, K-12 partners and pre-service teachers.  The current mentor team consists of six students.  Each mentor is assigned to one or more faculty members to increase their knowledge and ability to use different software programs as well as equipment which integrates technology into the classrooms.

Our WSU Student Mentors provide one-on-one support and training for Teacher Education faculty in the College of Education and the College of Liberal Arts.  Our mentors also provide assistance for the faculty in our partner schools and serve as models for the Gen-Y and student leadership programs our grant partners support.

A major obstacle to using technology in the classroom is the lack of mobility. Ideally computers would not be restricted by wiring or size allowing instructors to integrate computers more effectively in their projects. The M3 grant provided funds to supply each partner school and the College of Education, with their own mobile wireless carts equipped with laptop computers, wireless PC cards and a wireless base station.

Wireless mobility offers several benefits over a conventional computer lab: we tripled our computer capacity in the same floor space, we gain more flexibility in classroom configuration, computers are available to anyone anywhere.

Additional advantages of wireless computing: less wiring mess and expense, they are less obtrusive than standard desktops, they foster collaboration and sharing, they make anywhere, anytime learning possible.

Project M3 mixes together a blend of curriculum specialists, instructional designers, technology professionals and computer network and hardware experts. This team approach facilitates seamless integration while unique perspectives are brought to the process.

We also work closely with 5 partner schools: 2 high schools, 1 middle, 1 elementary and 1 parochial K8. The project provides professional development, student mentoring. In turn we receive valuable feedback on curriculum integration.

We also work together to develop specific activities. Partner school projects include clay animation, robotics, using KidPix and PowerPoint to create animated stories, creating a virtual tour of the school, iMovies, WebQuests, using handhelds to take surveys and calculate distributions.

Another successful integration mechanism is the Project M3 Integration Assistant, created as a database tool for teacher educators interested in learning more about technology, technology-related standards and how technology can be integrated into teacher education courses. Integration Assistant is in fact three databases in one: tools (multimedia, assessment, data gathering, tutorials and the like), standards and integrated teacher education lessons.

To learn more about Integration Assistant, please visit http://education.wichita.edu/m3/models/teachered/integrate/default.html

In Spring 2001, the COE developed and began teaching a Robotics in the Classroom workshop in which teachers learn to design, build and program robots using Lego Mindstorms Robotics Invention Systems.  During the workshop, teachers learn to use robotics to engage their students in real problem solving and collaborative learning while learning math, science and technology concepts at a concrete level.

In partnership with the College of Engineering, COE hosts an annual Lego Mindstorms Challenge. Fourth through Eight grade students strive to conquer five Mission Challenges designed by WSU Engineers as well as demonstrate what they have learned to professional Wichita engineers and educators in an oral presentation, table display and notebook. Sportsmanship and spirit are judged throughout the day to promote collaboration and teamwork.

In partnership with the College of Engineering, COE hosts an annual Lego Mindstorms Challenge. Fourth through Eight grade students strive to conquer five Mission Challenges designed by WSU Engineers as well as demonstrate what they have learned to professional Wichita engineers and educators in an oral presentation, table display and notebook. Sportsmanship and spirit are judged throughout the day to promote collaboration and teamwork.

In partnership with the College of Engineering, COE hosts an annual Lego Mindstorms Challenge. Fourth through Eight grade students strive to conquer five Mission Challenges designed by WSU Engineers as well as demonstrate what they have learned to professional Wichita engineers and educators in an oral presentation, table display and notebook. Sportsmanship and spirit are judged throughout the day to promote collaboration and teamwork.

Response as been so enthusiastic that the program has expanded to include an intermediate Robotics, Programming and Problem Solving, which is being offered for the first time Fall 2002.

An exciting new addition to the program is the Robotics Technology Camp. Kids in the 4th though 7th grades work with teachers in small groups to design, build and program robots using Lego Mindstorms during the week-long summer camp.

Our student mentors serve in two different capacities. Instructional mentors provide support for software and technology integration into curriculum while technical mentors provide support for hardware and troubleshooting. We use a FileMaker Pro database, designed in-house, to keep track of mentor assignments. The database tracks information about who we've helped, what projects they've worked on and how much time we spent mentoring.  This data is given to our evaluator for our project evaluation but is also helpful to our college as we make plans for future development

Current projects mentors and mentees are working on include:Blackboard on-line course development.Web page development Technology Projects for Students (TIPS) websiteImplementation of wireless mobile labs Computer wellness clinics  PowerPoint presentations Excel Digital video editingClay animationKidPix, Kidspiration and InspirationHandhelds curriculum integration and classroom management WebQuests for internet instruction Use of scanners, digital cameras, projectors, SmartBoard, and other peripherals Basic computer skills such as e-mail, Word, Internet 

We have two mobile labs: an iMAC and a Dell lab and several AirPort and Lucent base stations for wireless access. The labs are housed in Bretford carts, which also serve as secure storage and recharging stations. They also allows the labs to travel to other classrooms, even other buildings.

We have two mobile labs: an iMAC and a Dell lab and several AirPort and Lucent base stations for wireless access. The labs are housed in Bretford carts, which also serve as secure storage and recharging stations. They also allows the labs to travel to other classrooms, even other buildings.

Even more convenient, laptops can be transported in standard rolling carryon luggage. Four to five will easily fit in a suitcase. Or two or so can be carried in a backpack.

COE is housed in three buildings on the WSU campus, including Corbin Hall designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. To learn more about this building, which is on the national registry of historic sites, visit us at www.wichita.edu/education

Departments within the college are ACES (Administration, Counseling, Educational & School Psychology), CDS (Communicative Disorders & Sciences), C&I (Curriculum & Instruction) and KSS (Kinesiology & Sports Sciences.)

In addition to the more than 20 technology centered courses, Project M3 promotes professional development through frequent in-service workshops, tech fairs and other presentations.

Subjects have covered a wide spectrum of skill levels and subjects, from using web mail to creating iMovies, from burning CDs to creating Filemaker databases. Workshops focus not just on how-tos and applications, but cover instructional design, online instruction, Blackboard and e-learning.

Workshops are also offered for pre-service students and partner school teachers and staff. For a more complete listing of workshop subjects, see our web page at www.education.wichita.edu/m3/models/workshops

Project M3 sponsored Mentor Days for students and teachers from our partner and other interested schools. The first Mentor Day was hosted on campus, and students explored several technologies: digital audio, instant messaging and on-line chats, handhelds and using a web workspace.

For the second Mentor Day, students saw how technology was used in the workplace. Students and their teachers gathered at a new state-of-the-art cardiology hospital for a stimulating tour of the facilities.

The grant has also made possible a move into handheld computing, and the College of Education has acquired a handheld lab, along with portable keyboards and other peripherals.

Handhelds may be the ultimate in mobile technology. These small but mighty devices are convenient and instantly accessible. They are affordable, have a short learning curve, are easy to maintain and have a low overhead.

Handhelds may be the ultimate in mobile technology. These small but mighty devices are making major inroads in education. They are convenient and instantly accessible. They are affordable, have a short learning curve, are easy to maintain and have a low overhead.

Project M3 has made it possible to expand the handheld computing lab to over 15 PDAs, several portable keyboards, 2 digital cameras, voice recorder, GPS and scientific sensors.

Project M3 has made it possible to expand the handheld computing lab to over 15 handhelds, several portable keyboards, 2 digital cameras, voice recorder, GPS and scientific sensors.

Project M3 has made it possible to expand the handheld computing lab to over 15 PDAs, several portable keyboards, 2 digital cameras, voice recorder, GPS and scientific sensors.

www.wichita.edu/education/m3www.wichita.edu/education/m3