Mountain State University sponsors "Teachers and Technology At Play" Symposium
March 17, 2003

Mountain State University introduced 30 teachers, county administrators, and RESA-1 employees to their Technology Zone™ on March 6-7 for a special symposium titled "Technology & Teachers at Play." With the assistance of Ed Evans, Science Content Specialist/ WV Co-Director for the Coalfield Rural Systemic Initiative, the concept for the symposium was presented to each school superintendent of the coalfield counties.

Participating teachers were referred by their county superintendent to attend the symposium. The teachers represented schools throughout the southern Coalfield counties and computer science, biology, English, journalism and math disciplines.

Attendees to the symposium included: Boone—Tom Romine (Scott HS), Regina Ramey (Sherman JHS); Lincoln—Bill McComas (Guyan Valley HS), John Shimp Jr. (Hamlin HS), Danny Dailey (County Tech Coordinator); Logan—George Barker & JayAnna Ellis (Logan HS); McDowell—Bill Hornick (Mount View HS), Noah "J.R." Robinson (Sandy River MS); Yvonne Brown (Mount View MS), Carolyn Falin (Title I Technology/ Curriculum Specialist), Barbara Miller (Director of Technology); Mercer—Pamela Bowling (Pikeview HS), Rebecca Steorts (Bluefield HS), Ed Evans (Coalfield Rural Systemic Initiative); Mingo—Virginia Mounts (Vocational Technical Center), Karen White & James White (Gilbert HS); Monroe—Steve Ballengee (Peterstown MS), Robert Pomphrey (Mountain View ES), David Witt (James Monroe HS); Raleigh—Phyllis Newcomb (Woodrow Wilson HS), Paula Ann Wykle (Maxwell Hill ES), Debra Clark (RESA-1 Project InStep Coordinator), John Paul Miller (RESA-1 Coordinator of Technology Services); Summers—Jack Long & John Ramsey (Summers County HS); Wyoming—Camy Crouse (West Side HS), Lynn Toler (Wyoming East HS).

The symposium featured MSU's BEEHIVE (Better Educational Experiences Happen in Virtual Environments) and introduced ideas to inspire teachers to make innovative use of technology in the classroom. Dave Hurt, Associate Professor of Sciences at MSU demonstrated a 3-D heart model, noted "It gives students an opportunity to explore the heart in a three-dimensional fashion rather than piecing it together in a textbook's two-dimensional display." The 3-D heart model, developed by the Technology Zone, is animated to include blood flow and can be positioned in a way that focuses on a particular area of interest. Roger Teets, Forensics Faculty, demonstrated how students can use the multi-wall in the BEEHIVE to re-construct a crime scene and plot points for a grave dig. The BEEHIVE provides numerous opportunities to enhance classroom teaching and is a portable unit that can be used for demonstration.

By providing outreach to the K-12 educators/ administrators, MSU and its Technology Zone™ hopes to establish a supportive relationship with the K-12 sector and enhance learning experiences for their students. Follow-up symposiums will be scheduled to focus on the technology processes and curriculum supports that educators will need to integrate technology across the curriculum and fully engage students.

The Technology Zone™ project is supported through a congressional award to Mountain State University in early 2002. For more information regarding the Technology Zone, please visit http://tz.mountainstate.edu or contact Zone Staff, Chris Dunham (cdunham@mountainstate.edu) at (304)929-1581 or Kelli Mays (kmays@mountainstate.edu) at (304) 929-1569.