Faculty iPad Initiative

Dean Debbie Mercer purchased iPads for each full-time instructional faculty member in 2013 and required recipients to attend ongoing professional development training through the college’s Catalyst Center.

Pre-service Teacher Block A/1 iPad Initiative

Pre-service teachers in Block A/1 (the first set of courses in the elementary/secondary sequence) were provided iPads as instructional tools. This was a proactive move to ensure our graduates will be equipped for the classrooms they will soon lead as many school districts in Kansas adopted the device because of its effectiveness and relative low cost.

Bluemont Hall Technology Upgrades

Many classrooms and conference rooms have advanced technology to enhance learning and instruction. this includes equipment enhancements for classroom and distance education instruction. In addition, the Catalyst Center and lobby areas each added digital signage to help inform visitors and students of current events, activities, and building directories.

In the fall of 2012, the college formed a standing Technology Committee . Its areas of responsibility include setting priorities, working on technology-related issues, and providing leadership and policy recommendations for college wide technology initiatives.

Technology Proficiencies

In accordance with the College’s mission, the faculty adopted and approved the ISTE Standards for Educators in 2018 to ensure the faculty and pre-service teachers are empowered to learn, teach, live and work successfully in the digital age. These standards are a roadmap to teaching effectively and growing professionally in a rapidly changing world. Faculty report annually on the implementation of the proficiencies in their teaching and professional work.

Digital Teaching and Online Learning

The college offers online programming related to online learning:

• K-12 Online Teaching Undergraduate Certificate
• Educational Technology Graduate Certificate
• Masters in Curriculum and Instruction with emphasis in Educational Technology

Open/Alternative Textbook Initiative

The college’s technology committee and departments have researched e-textbook options and have developed an action plan to help combat the high cost of commercial print textbooks. The dean’s office funded the Open/Alternative Textbook Initiative as an incentive to encourage faculty experimentation and innovation in finding new, effective and less costly ways to deliver learning materials to students. Faculty can receive stipends up to $3,000 for proposals to replace costly commercial textbooks with faculty-created online resources and e-textbooks at no cost to the students.

Professors for OnLine Learning (POLL) Group

The POLL Group was initiated in 2013 by faculty interested in quality online learning. The group meets monthly during the academic year and is open to all faculty and graduate students in the College of Education. Topics relate to quality online teaching strategies, accessibility issues, developing online communities, applications to enhance teaching online, etc. Topical speakers are sometimes invited to share information of interest to the group and some meetings are designated for sharing and discussion among group members.

Conferences

Faculty members often attend national and international conferences to enhance their use of technology.

iPad iCamp

The college hosted its first iPad Camp in 2014, a daylong institute for about 260 educators at all levels interested in increasing iPad use and effectiveness in their classrooms.

Empower with Tech

The college hosted an Empower with Tech online workshop in June 2021.