University News

Nat'l Teleconference on Preparing Tech-Savvy Teachers in Urban and Rural Areas

October 8, 2003

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MACOMB, IL – The national interactive teleconference “Preparing Teachers to Use Technology Effectively in Urban and Rural Classrooms” will be broadcast live from Western Illinois University’s Memorial Hall studios from noon - 1:30 p.m. (CST) Wednesday, Oct. 22.

While budgetary shortfalls, insufficient technology infrastructure and a shortage of highly-qualified teachers can be problems for many K-12 districts, they are critical issues for under-resourced urban and rural schools. Teacher education programs in urban and rural settings must prepare teachers with the particular skills needed to meet these and other challenges. This program will highlight six teacher education programs, three urban and three rural, profiled by the North Central Regional Educational Laboratory (NCREL) in a recent series of case studies. Viewers will have the opportunity to see the campuses, hear from the teacher educators and students and share their thoughts with the researchers who compiled the case studies. Special emphasis will be placed on the role of technology in preparing teachers for urban and rural schools.

The program panel members will include Kathleen Fulton, National Commission on Teaching and AmericaÂ’s Future; Allen D. Glenn, University of Washington-Seattle; and Gilbert Valdez, North Central Regional Educational. Don Nelson, Western Illinois University associate dean, College of Education and Human Services, and Robert Blomeyer, North Central Regional Educational Laboratory, will moderate the program.

The 90-minute broadcast is sponsored by the U.S. Department of EducationÂ’s (USDE) Preparing Teachers to Use Technology ProgramÂ’s CATALISE Project. Western is the lead institution for the CATALISE Project.

For registration information and satellite coordinates, register online at www.catalise.org. For more information, contact Merrie Jean Parry at MJ-Parry@wiu.edu or at 309/298-1804. Horrabin Hall 45 will be available for local viewing.

Posted By: Darcie Shinberger (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
Office of University Communications & Marketing