ITeach Laptop Learning Program
The Nipissing University Faculty of Education is the first in Ontario to fully integrate mobile Educational Technology (ET) into the Bachelor of Education Program – both Consecutive ED and Concurrent ED. The iTeach Laptop Learning Program involves the continuous use of laptop computers by all students and faculty during both on-campus course work and field-based practicum experiences. Research has demonstrated that expertise in the use of technology in education is better acquired through ongoing “hands-on” exposure than through specialized (intermittent) computer course requirements. As a result of this program, Nipissing education students now have the advantage of acquiring the practical classroom ET skills that Boards of Education seek. Nipissing’s education graduates have always been in high demand across the province and nation, and the iTeach Laptop Learning Program only serves to strengthen that demand.
Teachers Need Technology!
Computers will never take the place of good teachers who employ a wide array of effective teaching strategies. However, teaching and learning have both been found to be significantly enhanced by the use of ET. Teachers and students in K-12 schools and in colleges/universities have responded by utilizing ET in increasingly greater numbers and with wider applications.
Education graduates must be computer literate in order to be competent, professional teachers, both now and in the future. Knowing the strong emphasis that Board of Education officials place on the computer literacy of their teachers, it is clear that being competent in the educational uses of technology is a great asset for education graduates in securing teaching positions of their choice.The iTeach Laptop Learning Program: The Nipissing Advantage
With a rich 100 year tradition in teacher education excellence, Nipissing is nationally-renowned for its high-caliber program. This tradition, combined with Nipissing University’s new iTeach Laptop Learning Program, has resulted in an unbeatable “complete teacher education package” that places Nipissing graduates at a distinct advantage. Through this experience, Nipissing education students learn to use technology-integrated teaching and learning tools with truly remarkable flexibility, power, and direct relevance to life-long learning. With on-the-spot access to teaching materials and information sources on the Internet, Nipissing education students, whether in class or at their practice teaching sites, develop expertise with the ET tools that helps them become leading edge teachers. Ultimately, of course, it’s the students of these future teachers who will benefit from this expertise and knowledge.
What is NEW with iTeach? Welcome to the MacBook World!
The iTeach Laptop Learning Program is the 1st Faculty of Education teacher preparation program in Canada (possibly even the world), to offer access and application of both major computer operating systems (Mac OS X and Microsoft Windows) on the same laptop. The program that first began as a pilot initiative in 2001, now involves all of the Consecutive ED (1 year) Bachelor of Education students plus the Year 4 & 5 Concurrent Education students in the Faculty. Beginning in 2009-2010, the iTeach Program will feature integrated use of Apple computer technology as students will supply a MacBook of their choice (purchase new or used* or bring one already owned*) for use in the program. Nipissing students will have access to education pricing for the new laptops. In addition to arriving on campus with their own MacBook laptops, students are obligated to purchase the iTeach Advantage Package at a cost of $395. This package will feature a rich set of professional development workshops, on-site technical service & support, access to a wide variety of ET equipment, plus the exclusive use of the iTeach External Hard Drive (EHD) technology. The EHD drive will contain both the Mac OS X (Leopard) and Microsoft Windows operating systems plus a plethora of software applications (e.g., Ontario Ministry of Education provincially licensed titles, Adobe CS4, Microsoft Office 2008 – Mac, SMART Notebook 10, Senteo Manager, etc.).
*used MacBooks must meet minimum specification in order to qualify.
PROGRAM INFORMATION
Questions, comments, need further information about the iTeach Laptop Learning Program at Nipissing University?
Visit the iTeach Program Information site: http://www.nipissingu.ca/iteach
Access to MacBook Education Prices for Nipissing Students:
https://my.nipissingu.ca/default.aspx
Contact Professor Ken Waller, iTeach Program Coordinator,
e-mail: kenw@nipissingu.ca
webpage: http://www.nipissingu.ca/education/kenw/
Telephone: 705-474-3450 Ext. 4262
