Technology Initiatives
“How will Space Exploration Benefit Your Life in the Future?”
This is the question that echoed throughout the College of Education and Human Services’ Office for Partnerships, Professional Development, and Technology (OPPDT) on the campus of Western Illinois University on October 5, 2006. Thirteen Macomb High School students from the Project East Initiative visited the Interactive Multimedia Lab in Horrabin Hall 104 to create 60-second audio podcasts for submission to the NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) 21st Century Explorer Podcast Competition.
The EAST (Environmental and Spatial Technology) Initiative is a project-based, service-learning class that provides students with an educational atmosphere that allows them to acquire and use information, solve problems, and gain insight and valuable learning experiences using the most current, high-end technologies available.
NASA’s 21st Century Podcast Competition is an Education and Public Outreach project 
designed to inspire and motivate the next generation of explorers and to compete effectively for the minds, imaginations, and career ambitions of America’s young people.
Podcasts are online subscriptions (usually free of charge) to audio-based programming. They provide listeners with anytime and anywhere access to a wide array of information ranging from education to entertainment. To learn more about podcasting, visit the College of Education and Human Services podcasting portal at http://www.wiu.edu/coehs/podcast .
Merit Van Pelt, Kendall Schumann, Matt Jackson, Josh Simpson, Casey Settles, Samuel Barsi, Skyler Pittman, Josh Baughmann, Derek Hammond, Griffin Kelso, Ethan Irish, Luke Thorman, and Benji Deason spent 2 hours learning and working with Apple’s iLife Suite to make voice recordings of their scripts, edit their audio recordings, add sound effects and jingles to enhance the creativity of their podcast, and convert their creations to MP3 format for submission to the contest. After editing the content, they learned how to upload their submission to the contest website.
“I believe the partnership opportunities between WIU and the Macomb Schools are endless,” says Maria Dunstan, Assistant Superintendent of Instruction for Macomb Unit School District No. 185. “This educational partnership can provide our students with opportunities to "have an edge" in the technological world in which we live.”
Rodney Greer, Director of OPPDT added, “Partnerships such as this enrich both the public school system and the teacher education program at Western. The experience gained through working with the high school students will be integrated into our undergraduate programs as examples to help prepare knowledgeable teachers for the future.”