In This Issue

Russian Nesting Dolls Reveal the Artist Within

Educational Technology Center: Infused with Technology

Instructor Insights: Meet Nancy Toll

Congratulations UWRF Graduates

News Items

Helpful Links

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The UWRF Educator is published by the University of Wisconsin-River Falls Outreach and Graduate Studies. It is designed to provide continuing education and professional development information to practicing and aspiring educators and education administrators. Funding for the publication is provided through program revenue, not tax dollars.

Directors:
   Katrina Larsen
   Doug Johnson
Editor:
   Deborah Wulf
Art Director:
   Tony Bredahl
Contributors:
   Angela Whitaker
Photography:
   Jens Gunelson

UWRF Outreach and Graduate Studies
410 S. Third Street, River Falls, WI 54022
(715) 425-3256
(800) 228-5607
Email: outreach@uwrf.edu
Web site

Educational Technology Center: Infused with Technology

It doesn’t look like any other computer lab on campus. And it shouldn’t. The Educational Technology Center (ETC) was meant to be different from the first architectural sketch.

Situated at the heart of the Wyman Education Building, the ETC is the hub for emerging instructional and information technologies. When designing the building and the lab, architects set out to truly integrate technology with the actual structure, rather than add technology to a completed space, explained ETC Director Karen Ryan.

“We chose modular furniture and arranged it so several students can sit at one computer,” she added. “We wanted to encourage users to learn collaboratively and cooperatively, gaining valuable experience with teamwork.”

State-of-the-Art Technology
More than just a computer lab, the ETC is home to state-of-the-art technology resources and a variety of teaching resources. Users have access to 17 Mac and 13 PC workstations, each with a selection of software to support course work and special projects. Video recording and editing equipment, cameras and projectors are also available, along with production supplies and machines used in the creation of teaching materials.

Since its opening in 1999, the ETC has been responsive to updates in technology. “The center is moving forward to support podcasting and other new interactive technologies,” said Mary Manke, associate dean of the College of Education and Professional Studies.

Infusing Technology with Education
Keeping up with the times ensures access to popular classroom applications, including Macromedia Dreamweaver, Kidspiration, SMART Board, Adobe PhotoShop, Microsoft Publisher, Chalk and Wire and iMovie. “Technology is becoming omnipresent in teaching, learning and everyday life,” said Mary. “Infusing technology with education is essential.”

Surrounding the lab are twelve modern classrooms each with glass, patio-style doors facing the ETC. “The glass doors allow classroom activities to be observed and promote a sense of what it means to be part of community of learners,” Karen said.

Technology Leadership Cadre
In the spirit of learning new programs and applications, risk taking and stepping outside of one’s comfort zone are encouraged. Thanks to the Technology Leadership Cadre (TLC), students who are specially trained to assist lab users provide readily available advice, support and knowledgeable help.

Individual tutoring, in-service workshops, weekly technology help-sessions and individual portfolio assistance are some of the services provided by the TLC. They also create user guides and teaching resources for many programs. You will also find members of the TLC at the Help Desk in the lab, providing a valuable resource to users.

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UWRF Students and Faculty Experience New Teaching and Learning Technology

The University of River Falls entered a new wave of teaching and learning with its implementation of SMART Technologies, software programs that allow students and teachers to interact in a new way.

After receiving a grant in 2006, Educational Technology Center director, Karen Ryan was able to purchase one SMART Board and two Sympodium touchscreens.

The SMART Board is an interactive whiteboard that connects to a computer and an LCD projector. This is a touch-sensitive application that allows students and teachers to write notes in digital ink and save their work to share later. The Sympodia are mobile units which can be used in any of 12 classrooms in the Wyman building.

Teaching this technology to education majors and teachers on the UWRF campus will better prepare them to use SMART Technologies to engage students in their own classrooms, Ryan said.

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