The Innovation in Digital Education and Leadership Institute at Loyola Marymount University’s School of Education is offering new models for educators, schools and systems to incorporate technology into their teaching practices.
Putting technology in every classroom sounds like a great idea but it’s been difficult to achieve. Few private or public schools have the capacity to prepare teachers and administrators to effectively integrate technology in the classroom and leverage its full potential for improving student learning.
But what if there was a place that could teach K-12 teachers and administrators to become experts who could take new ideas in educational technology and integrate them into classrooms for the benefit of students?
LMU’s iDEAL Institute turns willing teachers and administrators into specialists who can assess technology needs, plan computer systems and implement classroom programs that combine online learning with traditional student-teacher instruction. In addition, the program emphasizes courses in educational leadership and culture-building.
The iDEAL Institute works with teachers and administrators and shows them how to become advocates for equity in educational technology access. They learn how to select hardware and software; they also learn how to integrate technology into instructional practice to create “blended” learning environments. A blended classroom is one in which students work both by themselves and in collaborative groups using computers that adapt to their own pace, giving the teacher the flexibility to personalize learning for each student.
“The result is that students get more individualized learning that is tailored to their needs,” said Shannon Tabaldo, director of digital curriculum integration and development. “They can work at a very high level in math, but may work on a lower level in reading.”
The iDEAL Institute is launching its blended learning work through a partnership with three Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles – Holy Name of Jesus School, Immaculate Conception School and St. Aloysius Gonzaga School. The partnership is funded by the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, Specialty Family Foundation and Shea Family Charities.
Through the iDEAL Institute, LMU now offers a one-year certificate program for Technology Integration Specialists, one of only two programs in the country. Through its programs and partnerships, the Institute aims to improve teaching and learning for all students in the 21st century.
To learn more about the iDEAL Institute, visit soe.lmu.edu/centers/ideal/.
For more information, please contact Shannon Tabaldo at shannon.tabaldo@lmu.edu.
