Spotlight: Tuskegee University
Summer Projects in the School of Education Computer Laboratory

Tuskegee University, an IBM Teacher Preparation Grant recipient, 
is involved in helping to make technology available to the 
community at large.  One way they have been attempting to 
accomplish this goal is by providing computer lab access to 
special projects.

There were several projects conducted during the summer of 1993. 
One such program was headed by volunteers in the School of 
Education.  Dr. Danjuma Saulawa, Assistant Professor of Reading, 
started a summer enrichment program for 10 community students from 
lower socio-economic backgrounds.  These students, ages 7-12, were 
given additional help in reading, writing, and math skills during 
the month of July.  Teacher education students were volunteers in 
the program which was headed by Mr. Walter Sistrunk.  The program 
included a computer application component in which the graduate 
students worked with the students using IBM software at the 
appropriate levels.  

Another special project was run through the Center for Continuing 
Education on campus.  This project offered courses in word 
processing, spreadsheet use, and database management using 
Microsoft Works (software which was included in the grant 
package).  The classes were taught by Extension and Technical 
Education graduate students.  They provided students with 
practical experiences in teaching and allowed the university to 
open its lab to the community at large. 

The project has evolved since last year when faculty members 
offered a basic course in word processing, spreadsheet and 
database management to the community.  This year an advanced class 
for students with experience using integrated packages was added 
and graduate students were responsible for teaching the classes.

The Child Development Center on campus also used the School of 
EducationŐs computer laboratory to provide enrichment activities 
for their students.  University students work with the children 
using the "Bouncy Bee Learns Letters" and "Bouncy Bee Learns 
Words" software.  The children learned to sign-on and access 
software in a very non-threatening environment.  The five-year-
olds were able to help the four-year-olds sign-on and play the 
games and toward the end of the summer, both the four- and five-
year-olds were helping their teachers sign-on and access software.  
In this environment, the young children were using the computer as 
both a learning tool and a fun activity.  

The School of EducationŐs computer laboratory has also recently 
purchased a copy of the GRE study program.  They plan to have this 
software available for student use by this spring.

Through providing access to computers to both the community and to 
the University, the School of Education at Tuskeegee is able to 
share its resources effectively to aid in the infusion of 
technology in education.

For more information, contact:
Lawrence A. Beard
305 Thrasher Hall
Tuskegee, AL 36088
(205) 727-8598 
.