EDUCATE
EDUCATE at Penn State
In the fall of 2007, the College of Education announced that students entering several majors would be required to bring a notebook computer to class. One of the principal reasons for adopting this new technology requirement is to engage students in opportunities to learn to facilitate meaningful teaching and learning, using powerful modern digital tools. The requirement is part of a new program, titled Exploring Directions in Ubiquitous Computing and Teacher Education (EDUCATE) and applies to students (typically at the beginning of their Junior year or 5th semester) who enter the following programs in the College:
- Elementary and Kindergarten Education (EKED) programs, including the Early Childhood Education Option (N-3), at the University Park, Altoona, Berks and Brandywine Campuses.
- Secondary English Education (SECED ENGL)
- Special Education (SPLED)
- World Language (WL ED)
- Childhood and Early Adolescent Education*
* (new for the fall of 2011)
Leading EDUCATE
Director of EDUCATE, Orrin Murray, joined the College in January 2008 as a new assistant professor of education. Murray comes to Penn State from the University of Michigan’s School of Education where he was a post-doctoral fellow. He has an MBA from the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business and a Ph.D. in Education from the University of Michigan. Prior to his doctoral studies, Murray spent over a decade in the personal computer industry focusing on technology in K-12 education.
Origins of EDUCATE
EDUCATE is the expansion of a prototype program begun in the Professional Development School (PDS). After extensive research in the PDS setting, faculty in the College of Education determined that an Apple MacBook, with Mac OS X, and the iLife suite of software represented the best set of digital tools to help our students and faculty learn to facilitate and engage in meaningful teaching and learning. Building on the central theme that educators are life-long learners, this set of modern digital tools provide limitless opportunities for engagement.
Impact of EDUCATE
Participants have reported very positive learning experiences both in and out of formal classes because of the digital tools they used. One student talked about developing podcasts “about classical musicians in order to teach my students about the lives and works of these musicians. Previously, I had my students create their own podcasts, so I thought it would be interesting for them to see how someone else put together a podcast related to a completely different subject, and also because I thought it was a quick and fun way for the students to be introduced to the artists.”
Jacqueline Edmondson, associate dean for teacher education and undergraduate programs in the College of Education explains, “We have determined that this digital toolset will be the best for use in professional development courses and field experiences, for facilitating innovative instructional technology integration in public school teaching, and for equipping graduates to teach in 21st century classrooms throughout Pennsylvania and the rest of the country.”
She continued, “Because the notebook computer is a requirement of the student’s academic program, the expense can be included in student aid calculations of a student’s cost of attendance. Students who are required to purchase a notebook computer and who show financial need should be able to use traditional student loan and grant funds to offset the cost.”
The College has determined the following minimum specifications for the required notebook computer:
- Apple MacBook Pro
- 2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
- 4 GB RAM
- 500 GB Serial ATA Drive @ 5400 rpm
- Superdrive 8x (DVD/CD)
- AppleCare Protection Plan for MacBook Pro
Order your MacBook Pro at the Apple Education Store.
Note: Students who already have a notebook computer meeting or exceeding these specifications do not need to obtain additional items to meet the requirement. Students who can upgrade an existing notebook computer to meet or exceed these specifications may do so to meet the requirement. Other students must obtain a notebook computer meeting these specifications to fulfill the requirement.
