October 2005 — Applications
Print this article | Email this articleClick here to receive your FREE subscription to T.H.E. Journal
University of Texas at Austin Explores LIFE
The laptop initiative also created a critical need to train students to use the new hardware and software tools. Frequent workshops were provided at the beginning of each semester to familiarize new students with the operating system, basic applications, and resources of their newly acquired computer. These sessions were followed by an ongoing series of workshops designed to increase the students’ knowledge and skills in using their computer as a learning tool.
Since students and teachers both needed an ongoing training and support system, Atomic Learning (www.atomiclearning.com) was selected as a training partner. Atomic Learning provides Web-based software training and 24/7 support through a library of more than 15,000 short tutorial movies that answer those “How do I do that?” questions. Atomic Learning not only allowed students to learn software on their time—frequently late at night—but enabled faculty to continue to teach subject matter, rather than spend valuable class time explaining how to use the software applications.
Technical support. The infrastructure created to sustain LIFE included partnering with the school’s Learning Technology Center (LTC) to offer help desk and technical support when hardware failed. It also provided wireless Internet access throughout the C'E, as well as in the local elementary and secondary classrooms in which preservice teachers practiced their skills. In addition, the LTC facilitates and supports the instructional and research activities of the college’s faculty, students, and staff by providing computer and media production facilities, equipment, and services. The Laptop Help Desk is another critical part of LTC’s support of LIFE. The goal of the help desk, which is staffed by four student assistants, is to provide LIFE students with software and hardware support for their iBooks. If major hardware repairs are needed, the Laptop Help Desk can make arrangements to ship laptops under warranty directly to Apple. The help desk staff also stays informed of Apple news and current issues to ensure top-quality service to C'E students.
Field experience. The College of Education facilitates the training of Austin Independent School District (AISD) mentor teachers to use the same technology that is modeled and taught in the pre-service teachers’ professional development courses.
This training model provides mentor teachers with the tools and training that enable them to become personal and professional users of the technology, and provides a technology-rich field experience for UT pre-service students. Then, when student teachers begin their field experience in the mentor teachers’classrooms,the technology tools they’ve been issued during technology training sessions can be used in the classrooms, the mentor teachers will know how to use the tools, and the students will also be accustomed to using them. This provides a great opportunity for collaboration among the mentor teachers and the student teachers in incorporating the use of technology into the student teachers’ lesson plans and field experiences.
