One of four districts that formed a partnership to win a Technology Innovation Challenge Grant from the U.S. Department of Education, the Wyoming Public Schools had also passed a $45-million bond issue, establishing the funds to start an educational technology program.

But they did not have the expertise, or staff, to put it all together.

To help school districts across the state realize their goals of integrating technology into the classroom, edtech.connect was developed by Yong Zhao, assistant professor of educational psychology in the College of Education at Michigan State University.

Designed to assist local districts and communities to more fully realize the educational benefits of modern technologies by providing objective and research-based information and support, edtech.connect offers customized services in technology planning, technology policy, professional development and educational software and content. edtech.connect brings the resources of the College of Education to local school districts in the form of faculty and graduate students who provide the knowledge to build a complete program that fits the needs of the district.

Photo Caption:  Anita Rutlin

"We’re working now with schools to make changes that are going to have to happen because the technology will be coming," said Anita Rutlin, deputy superintendent for the Wyoming Public Schools. "We have a very specific project with two middle schools. The middle school principals have met with Dr. Yong Zhao to outline the project and the teams will be meeting with people Zhao identifies from MSU to carry forth those projects to help middle school students do more exploration.

"Middle school students generally do have exploratory courses. Now we’re going to push it further to incorporate the technology, and MSU is going to help, not only with the design of how we will do this, but also with the implementation of professional development of teachers that will be needed to carry this out."

Armed with the correct combination of infrastructure, hardware, software and professional development, computer-based education is a powerful learning tool. Students can use the Internet to do research, or use programs like the Reading Classroom Explorer and Tele-Web that have demonstrated that using a computer can open up new worlds and encourage struggling students to succeed.

"Technology can have a tremendous impact on the teaching and learning for all abilities and in all different kinds of communities," said Barbara Markle, director of K-12 Education Outreach in the College of Education. "And it has particular positive use with students who need help in understanding basic skills. With technology we can bring all the students up to the standards that they will need in the knowledge-based society of the 21st century."

Building a successful program is more than just buying a few computers and teaching students to type. It is extremely complex, ranging from how to connect to the Internet to what hardware to buy to how to configure the computer lab. Then, once the hardware problems are solved, educational software needs to be matched to the educational needs of the district’s students, and classroom teachers trained to make the best use of the newly purchased hardware and software. And with all the essential elements planned, the new system must fit within the district’s budget."

"In the state right now, many districts have bond issues," said Rutlin, "and almost all of those bond issues include some money to include the implementation of technology into the infrastructure of the district. When you are going to spend money in this direction, it is advisable to prove to the voters that including technology in the learning environment will improve student achievement, and that we’re going to be making the appropriate curriculum, instructional strategy, schedules and so on, to maximize the impact that technology can have on the learning experience."

According to Zhao, edtech.connect can provide the information necessary for school districts to make those changes. Where normally a university offers courses and gives the participants certificates, edtech.connect is a radically different concept. "We do research and provide you with the information you need," he said. "Many schools do not know what they need."

"What edtech.connect has to offer a district will be different in each case," said Zhao. "It is a lot like remodeling your kitchen, where you have someone come to your house, see what you have and how much you want to spend. Then you go through the design process and build it. edtech.connect works like that, but with educational technology, which is a lot more complex."

The edtech.connect customized service helps the school districts shape educational technology programs into a working form, based on the needs, goals and amounts of money to be spent by the district. Each district is asked to complete an extensive survey designed help school districts pinpoint educational technology needs and goals. The survey, which is available either in paper form or on-line, gives a starting point for the edtech.connect staff.

"This survey gives us an idea of where they are and where they want to go," said Zhao. "edtech.connect can provide consulting about hardware and connectivity, provide support for professional development, and help teachers integrate technology in the classroom."

But while the survey will provide the basic information that is needed, there will be significant follow-up on a personal level to fill in the blanks.