University News
WIU, Macomb Schools Math Partnership
February 2, 2005
MACOMB, IL – Equation: Western Illinois University’s Office of Teacher Education Partnerships (OTEP)+ Macomb Community Unit School District No. 185 = A perfect partnership.
WesternÂ’s OTEP and the Macomb School District have teamed up to give 6th through 12th grade mathematics teachers new ways to teach geometry, algebra and more using advanced technology, said Rodney Greer, director of the Office of Teacher Education Partnerships in the College of Education and Human Services. Under the direction of Greer, WesternÂ’s curriculum specialist, Stephanie Wilcox, along with WIU instructional technologists Danielle Brush and Marissa Beard, work in the public schools two to three days per week, assisting mathematics teachers integrate technological components into their classroom. Wilcox has also helped the teachers re-design their curriculum and lesson plans.
“When Bob Meixner (Macomb School’s assistant superintendent who passed away last year) first approached us for this partnership between the schools and our office, we thought it was a terrific idea,” Greer said. “Our staff is able to go into the local schools to help teachers as well as work with Western’s pre-service teachers so they are coming into the schools with the latest technological skills.”
Wilcox has been in the Macomb School District the past two years working on various projects. In 2003-04, she implemented technology and new curriculum into the Macomb Senior High SchoolÂ’s physical education program. She has also presented after-school workshops for teachers on a variety of technology-related subjects.
The most recent partnership involves SMART Technologies programming, as well as other specialized mathematics programming designed to bring advanced technologies into the classroom and provide real-life mathematics applications to the students. The program is supported by district funds as well as Title V, II and II-D grants. Some of the technologies include a SMART Board, a special interactive touch screen for teachers to use at the front of their classrooms; document cameras; Excel software; online resources; CDs and GeometerÂ’s Sketchpad software. Before implementing the technology and curriculum re-design, Wilcox worked with each teacher to determine goals and the new curriculum, as well as to set up the new technology.
Wilcox continues to meet with the teachers to review the curriculum and thus far, Greer said the feedback has been positive. WesternÂ’s OTEP staff will continue to work with the teachers through the end of the school year.
Maria Dunstan, Macomb Community Unit School District No. 185 assistant superintendent, added that Macomb High School is currently reviewing the 9-12 English curriculum and will be looking into adopting a new K-8 reading curriculum in 2005-06. The Macomb Schools will utilize resources from Western to help with the curriculum changes, she added.
“The partnership between Macomb schools and Western is invaluable. The University can provide us with support services, educational opportunities and research to which most public schools do not have access,” Dunstan said. “I look forward to continuing and strengthening our partnership with Western.”
College of Education and Human Services Dean Bonnie Smith-Skripps emphasized that the partnership is of great benefit to WesternÂ’s teacher education program as well.
“We bring back to our education courses immeasurable insights and perspectives from the practicing teachers,” Smith-Skripps said. “This is critical to our preparation of teachers for today’s and tomorrow’s classroom.”
Because of the innovative nature of the partnership, Wilcox has been invited to present the aspects of the program at the annual National Education Computing Conference (NECC) this summer.
“It will be exciting to share the results of this partnership,” Wilcox added. “The technological components of not only the mathematics program, but also the PE program last year, really allow students to visualize and conceptualize the problems and the solutions. It is also preparing our pre-service teachers to bring the most up-to-date knowledge into their future classrooms.”
Posted By: Darcie Shinberger (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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