Enriching the Educational Media Experience in Teacher Education:
University of Northern Iowa

For many years students in teacher education at the University
of Northern Iowa have had the opportunity to learn about
media/technology in the classroom.  However, due to large
enrollments, much of the course took on the appearance of
lecture about, rather than experience with, the media and
technology.  Often the class size was into the hundreds, making
it impossible to do more than demonstrate a particular type of
technology and its application in the classroom.

There are still large numbers of students, but with creative
scheduling and innovative approaches, students meet with their
instructors in small group sessions.  The focus of these
sessions is to provide students hands-on experiences with
technology and to explore the potential for these technologies
in teaching.

This new structure provides a multitude of experiences for
students ranging from basic traditional media production like
overhead transparencies to computer-based presentation
techniques using an LCD projection panel.  In addition to
having opportunities to develop skills in using word
processoors, databases, and spreadsheets, students are taught
how to use and develop hypermedia applications and integrate
them into their own lesson plans.

Much of the background information needed for production and
assignments prepared for them in hypermedia format.  (In fact,
this is how students obtain their course syllabus, complete
with handouts for assignments and periodic quizzes!)

Proficiency in the three computer applications skills is part
of the course requirements.  Knowledge of word processing is
demonstrated by composing a letter to parents.  Database skills
are demonstrated by preparing a classroom database with four
fields and five records.  Spreadsheets are explored by the
preparation of a gradebook file with data on four students,
three graded assignments, a total grade, an average grade, and
a percentage grade.  In addition to gaining the skills for
managing these types of applications, students discuss how they
might use them within their classes in the future.

Further enhancing their computer skills, students are required
to develop a simple piece of hypermedia and then incorporate it
into a lesson which they have developed.

In addition, telecommunications using the campus-wide network
and the Internet is a required skill.  This also enables
faculty members to reduce extensive office hours, since
students can reach them via electronic mail.

Since most of the students enroll in the educational media
course during their freshman or sophomore years, many more
opportunities await them in the infusion of media/technology
within their program of study.  Experiencing the educational
media course early in their program becomes a means for
students to develop a "technological lens" through which they
can view their methods classes.  Often during their
professional semester, in methods classes, students have
experiences with using content-specific materials in simulated
and actual classroom experiences.  Having learned the basics in
their media class, these experiences enhance their knowledge
base and provide them with further opportunities to explore the
applications of media/technology in the classroom.  By the time
students are engaged in student teaching, they have had a
multitude of experiences using technology for their own
coursework and with children in pre-teaching practice.

For more information, contact:
Dr. Sharon E. Smaldino, Dr. Robert Muffoletto, 
Dr. Leigh Zeitz, or Kathy Klink-Zeitz
Department of Curriculum & Instruction
University of Northern Iowa
Cedar Falls, IA  50614-0606
.