July 7, 2000 UNT Inhouse publication: UNT helps Intel train teachers

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UNT helps Intel train teachers

UNT is one of five agencies selected to coordinate part of a multimillion-dollar international Teach to the Future project designed to enhance the way teachers use technology in the classroom.

Intel Corp., a leading manufacturer of computer processors, hopes to train 100,000 master teachers within 1,000 days through grants awarded to coordinating agencies and school districts, says Lemoyne Dunn, Intel's Teach to the Future project coordinator for UNT.

As a coordinating agency for the three-year project, the Texas Center for Educational Technology in the College of Education will receive $387,600 to fund recruitment of local education agencies and teachers. UNT is facilitating the training, which began June 5. The five-day sessions run through July in Coppell, Denton and Dallas.

"We believe this is the largest private industry effort to date — valued at nearly half a billion dollars — to ensure technology is used successfully to improve student learning," says Craig Barrett, Intel president and chief executive officer.

"Technology in the classroom is worth nothing if teachers don't know how to use it effectively," he says. "Computers aren't magic. Teachers are."

A 1999 report by the U.S. Department of Education found that only 24 percent of new teachers felt "very well prepared" to integrate technology into their curriculum, and Education Secretary Richard W. Riley recently noted that the figure is even lower if all classroom teachers are included, says Jim Poirot, professor of technology and cognition and executive director of the Texas Center for Educational Technology.

By year's end, UNT will coordinate training for 100 master teachers in northern and western Texas, Poirot says. Ultimately, 10,000 teachers in UNT's region will be skilled to train their peers.

Teachers of kindergarten through 12th grade qualify for training. As part of the program, participants must train 20 peers a year for three consecutive years once they have been certified as master teachers.

Intel expects to spend more than $400 million for equipment, training and program management worldwide. Each participating teacher receives a laptop computer with a CD-ROM writer. In addition, Microsoft's Gates Foundation will contribute $7,000 in software for each trainee who attends a subsequent three-day seminar during the months of August, September and October. Microsoft's contribution totals an estimated $344 million worldwide.

Intel will provide $302,000 to UNT — $77,000 for equipment and $75,000 a year for staffing. The Gates Foundation will contribute $85,600 in staff support and software.

"This is to encourage teachers to include technology in their curriculum," Dunn says. "It enhances student learning."

Intel seminar subjects range from creating student publications to developing student web sites. Trained company employees are conducting classes.

Intel selected two Texas universities to coordinate workshops in their regions — UNT and Texas A&M. The three other regional training agencies are in Oregon, Northern California and Arizona. Intel has plans to expand the program annually both nationally and internationally.

Next year, Intel plans to train teachers in 10 more regions or states. Its goal is to create 100,000 master trainers by 2002. The company also will train 300,000 instructors in 19 countries throughout Europe, Asia and Latin America during the three-year period, Dunn says.

Regional training agencies were selected based on numerous factors, including need, readiness and available resources. For more information, contact Lemoyne Dunn at 565-2431.