July 27, 2001
Rebecca Shell
419.530.7832
University Awarded Grant to Develop Technology-Savvy Educators
The University of Toledo was recently awarded a $345,362 grant to help equip
future educators develop the skills needed to implement technology-rich teaching
methods in the classroom.
The grant, awarded by the U.S. Department of Education’s initiative Preparing
Tomorrow’s Teachers to Use Technology, will provide funding for the program
Teachers’ Info-Port to Technology (TIPT). The grant also allows for potential
second and third year funding totaling an additional $567,069.
According to Dr. Berhane Teclehaimanot, project director, TIPT is the result
of collaboration between Toledo Public Schools, the College of Education, the
College of Arts and Sciences, and University College.
“The Toledo Public Schools System is aggressively preparing its schools
for the use of technology in the classroom,” said Teclehaimanot. “This
program will enhance our pre-service teachers to be technology-savvy and give
them the skills needed to teach students to use technology as an educational
tool in the classroom.”
Over the next three years, TIPT will revise all University of Toledo College
of Education undergraduate curriculum to include technology-rich teaching methods
that meet Ohio, National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education and
International Society for Technology in Education standards.
In order to assure that emerging curriculum is both applicable and practical,
an advisory team consisting of K-12 teachers and experts in technology, content-area,
and curriculum will be created to help direct the program.
The program will also conduct technology-based faculty development workshops
for 90 faculty members, and provide funding for computers, camcorders, digital
cameras, VCRs and video projectors that can be used by faculty and students
in the classroom.
The University of Toledo College of Education enrolls nearly 2,000 undergraduate
students per year and places nearly two-thirds of its 460 graduates in the Toledo
Public Schools every year.