Skip to main content
Log in

Project THREAD: Technology helping restructure educational access and delivery

  • Development
  • Published:
Educational Technology Research and Development Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This article describes Project THREAD (Technology Helping Restructure Educational Access and Delivery), an initiative funded by the U.S. Office of Education through its PT3 grant program. The project’s overarching goal is to prepare teachers to integrate modern technologies to fundamentally enhance teaching and learning in K-12 schools. Project initiatives include: (a) a series of in-service workshops for university faculty, administrators, field supervisors, and mentor teachers; (b) one-on-one follow-up support provided by project staff; (c) a minigrant program to support the development of technology-based learning activities for university courses; (d) expanded opportunities for students to apply technology in thier courses and field experiences; and (e) a redesign of selected courses that impact a large number of teacher candidates. The project’s evaluation is described, along with a discussion of outcomes and lessons learned. in recognition of the project’s scope and accomplishments thus far, the College of Education at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), was named the 2002 winner of the Best Practice Award for the Innovative Use of Technology by the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (AACTE).

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Anderson, D. (2001).Final evaluation report for Project THREAD (Annual Evaluation Report). Boulder City, NV: Delphi Research of Nevada, Inc. [Online.] Available:http://www.unlv.edu/projects/THREAD/Grant/Evaluation/.

    Google Scholar 

  • Becker, H.J., & Riel, M.M. (1999).Teacher professionalism and the emergence of constructivist-compatible pedagogies. (Teaching, Learning, and Computing-1998 National Survey, Special Report.) Center for Research on Information Technology and Organizations, University of California, Irvine. [Online.] Available:http://www.crito.uci.edu/tlc/findings/aera/.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bielefeldt, T. (2001). Technology in teacher education.Journal of Computing in Teacher Education, 17(4), 4–12.

    Google Scholar 

  • Birman, B.F., Desimone, L., Porter, A.C., & Garet, M.S. (2000). Designing professional development that works.Educational Leadership 57(8), 28–33.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bogdan, R.C., & Biklen, S.K. (1998).Qualitative research for education: An introduction to theory and methods. Needham Heights, MA: Allyn & Bacon.

    Google Scholar 

  • brush, T., Igoe, A., Brinkerhoff, J., Glazewski, K., Ku, H., & Smith, T.C. (2001). Lessons from the field: Integrating technology into preservice teacher education.Journal of Computing in Teacher Education, 17(4), 16–20.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brush, T., Rutowski, K., Glazewski, K., Sutton, J., Hansen, C., & Bardsley, D. (2002). Strategies for integrating technology into field-based teacher training programs: Perspectives from educational technology and teacher education faculty.Proceedings of SITE 2002 (pp. 1182–1188). Nashville, TN: Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education.

    Google Scholar 

  • Carlson, R., and Gooden, J. (1999). Are teacher preparation programs modeling technology use of preservice teachers?ERS Spectrum, 17(3), 11–15.

    Google Scholar 

  • CEO Forum on Educational Technology. (2000).School technology and readiness: A focus on digital learning. Washington, D.C.: CEO Forum on Educational Technology. [Online.] Retrieved May 10, 2002, from:http://www.ceoforum.org/downloads/report3.pdf.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dawson, K., & Nonis, A. (2000). Preservice teachers’ experiences in a K-12/university technology-based field initiative.Journal of Computing in Teacher Education, 17(1), 4–12.

    Google Scholar 

  • Falba, C.J., Strudler, N.B., & Boone, R. (1999). College of education faculty use of technology: A snapshot in time. In Price, J., Willis, J., Willis, D., Jost, M., & Boger-Mehall, S. (Eds.),Proceedings of Society for Information Technology and Teacher Education Tenth Annual Conference. Charlottesville, VA: Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fullan, M.G. (1991).The new meaning of educational change. Teachers College Press: New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jayroe, T.B., Ball, K.C., & Novinski, M.r. (2001). Professional development partnerships integrating educational technology.Journal of Computing in Teacher Education, 18(1), 12–18.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jonassen, D.H., Peck, K.L., & Wilson, B.G. (1999).Learning with technology: A constructivist perspective. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Merrill, Prentice Hall, Inc. Columbus, OH: Prentice Hall, Inc.

    Google Scholar 

  • International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE). (2000).National education technology standards for teachers. [Online.] Retrieved May 10, 2002, from: http://cnets.iste.org/pdf/page09.pdf.

  • Knesek, G., Christiansen, R., Miyashitak, K., & Ropp, M. (2000).Instruments for assessing educator progress in technology integration. Denton: University of North Texas, Institute for the Integration of Technology into Teaching and Learning, USA.

    Google Scholar 

  • McKenzie, J. (1999). How to reach the reluctant teacher.From Now On. Retrieved Jan. 31, 2003, from http://www.fno.org/sum99/reluctant.html.

  • Moursund, D., & Bielefeldt, T. (1999).Will new teachers be prepared to teach in a digital age? A national survey on information technology in teacher education. Research report by International Society for Technology in Education, Publication of Milken Exchange on Education Technology.

  • Office of Technology Assessment. (1995).Teachers and technology: making the connection (OTA-EHR-616). Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ronnkvist, A., Dexter, S.L., & Anderson, R.E. (2000).Technology support: Its depth, breadth and impact in America’s schools. (Teaching, Learning, and Computing: 1998 National Survey, Report, No. 6). Irvine, CA: Center for Research on Information Technology and Organizations.

    Google Scholar 

  • Scardamalia, M., & Bereiter, C. (1996). Computer support for knowledge-building communities. In T. Koschmann (Ed.).CSCL: Theory and practice of an emerging paradigm. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.

    Google Scholar 

  • Strudler, N., & Grove, K.J. (2002). Integrating technology into teacher candidates’ field experiences: A two-pronged appraoch.Proceedings of SITE 2002 (pp. 1783–1787). Nashville, TN: Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education.

    Google Scholar 

  • Strudler, N., Handler, M.G., & Falba, C.J. (1998). A systematic approach for implementing the revised ISTE foundations: Dreams and realities.Journal of Computing in Teacher Education, 15(1), 16–23.

    Google Scholar 

  • Strudler, N., McKinney, M.O., & Jones, W.P. (1995). Integrating technology into teacher education courses: Longitudinal perspectives on overcoming impediments.Journal of Computing in Teacher Education, 11(3), 15–20.

    Google Scholar 

  • Strudler, N., McKinney, M.O., Jones, W.P., & Quinn, L.F. (1999). First year teachers’ use of technology: Preparation, expectations, and realities.Journal of Technology and Teacher Education, 7(2), 115–130.

    Google Scholar 

  • Strudler, N.B., & Wetzel, K. (1999). Lessons from exemplary colleges of education: Factors affecting technology integration in preservice programs.Educational Technology Research and Development, 47(4), 63–81.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thompson, A., & Schmidt, D. (2002).An award winning technology in teacher education program: Description of a comprehensive approach.Proceedings of SITE 2002 (pp.463–1467). Nashville, TN: Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wetzel, K., Zambo, R., & Padgett, H. (2001). A picture of change in technology-rich K-8 classrooms.Journal of Technology and Teacher Education, 18(1), 5–11.

    Google Scholar 

  • Willis, J.W., & Mehlinger, H.D. (1996). Information technology and teacher education. In J. Sikula (Ed.),Handbook of research on teacher education (p. 978–1029). New York: Macmillan.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Strudler, N., Archambault, L., Bendixen, L. et al. Project THREAD: Technology helping restructure educational access and delivery. ETR&D 51, 41–56 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02504517

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02504517

Keywords

Navigation