UW-Stevens Point technology training grants to impact schools throughout region

Recently awarded technology training grants totaling almost $93,000 will further strengthen technology and teacher training ties between the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point and school districts from as far away as Rhinelander to as close as Stevens Point.

The University of Wisconsin-System’s PK-16 Initiative: Professional Development in Instructional Technologies for Teachers has awarded three grants for UWSP proposals.

Learning Through Education Technologies (LETS) has been awarded $47,373. Joan North, dean of the College of Professional Studies and professor of education, and Marvin Van Kekerix, assistant vice chancellor for UWSP Extension, co-authored the proposal. The proposal is for the second- and third-year funding needs of LETS and works to establish a collaborative effort to effectively integrate learning technologies into the curriculum and classroom for K-9 educators. Collaborative partners include UWSP, public schools in Stevens Point, Wausau, Nekoosa, Montello and Almond-Bancroft and CESA 5. A steering committee representing all the parties brings guidance and oversight to LETS.

"This past June’s LET’s retreat on campus, attended by more than 30 K-9 professionals, will be the springboard for area teachers to build learning technologies into the curriculum," said Van Kekerix. "By emphasizing a team approach and by working collaboratively with area school districts, we can bring a positive impact to students, teachers and the classroom throughout Central Wisconsin’s elementary and junior high schools."

Webbing the Community has been awarded $7,296. Larry Riggs, professor of education and coordinator of instructional resources, and Mark Pohlkamp, associate lecturer in art and design, co-authored the proposal. Begun in 1997, this project allows university faculty to train public school teachers in eight disciplines from the Marshfield and Rosholt school districts. The focus will be on the development of professional Internet web pages in order to provide a multicultural, as well as business community-based experience for their students. Sister campuses are being selected in Germany, South Africa and other areas so students can communicate their efforts beyond our borders.

"We are building a technology bridge from UWSP professionals to our peers in the Marshfield and Rosholt school districts," said Riggs. "Through this project, students will have the opportunity to employ new capabilities to enhance problem solving skills using real world examples while sharing their projects with students in other parts of the world."

UWSP’s third PK-16 Initiative, Central Wisconsin Coalition for High School Technology, was awarded $38,500. Co-authored by Joan North and Julie Hellweg, director of credit outreach for UWSP Extension, the project will create graduate courses on using technology in two high school content areas (English and history). In the first year, UWSP faculty members Barbara Dixson, English, and Eric Yonke, history, will be paired with high school teachers in the same field. Together they will develop a graduate course that combines the latest content and the latest technology using state and national standards.

"Our goal is to have a favorable impact on high school teachers from Rhinelander south to Portage," said Hellweg. "Merging the very latest English and history standards with modern technology should greatly enhance the learning process."

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