By Michael Travis
News Editor
If technology is the key to the future, Pepperdine’s Graduate School of Education and Psychology has recently received a push in the right direction.
A $4 million grant, one of the largest in Pepperdine history, will be spent to infuse technology throughout the education programs of the school.
The program, referred to as the Preservice Educators and Techno-logy Preparation (PETPrep), will encompass many different ways that the Internet and online technology can impact approaches to many core subjects such as reading, writing, math and science.
It will also allow teacher education candidates to complete online tasks and have access to course materials.
“It is a great grant that is preparing tomorrow’s teachers to deal with the challenges they will face in the future,” Dr. Margaret Weber, dean of GSEP, said. “The program will help teachers use technology as a more effective tool in the classroom.”
Goals of the program include using online forums for discussion, electronic gradebooks, creation of parent newsletters and other materials, editing digital video, creating CD-ROMs for data storage, and creating professional online portfolios.
“Teachers will have access to online materials that will help them improve the quality of their instruction,” Weber said.
Two years ago, the GSEP received a $1.8 million catalyst grant from the U.S. Department of Education after it submitted a written proposal. Matching funds in the form of money and technology came from Pepperdine University, Apple Computer, Classroom Connect, the Los Angeles County Office of Education, Lennox School District and the George Lucas Educational Foundation.
March 21, 2002