University News
SMARTer Kids Research Program
September 29, 2006
MACOMB, IL – A research grant from a national foundation has led to a continued partnership between Western Illinois University’s education program and the Macomb School District.
Jennifer Clark, a special education teacher at MacombÂ’s MacArthur Early Childhood Center, and Philip Nordness, WIU special education assistant professor, recently received a research grant from the SMARTer Kids Foundation Research program to benefit children at the Macomb early childhood center.
According to Nordness, the SMARTer Kids Research Program is designed to help educators study technology's effects on teaching and learning, and to publish research results. As part of the grant program Nordness and Clark will conduct a six- to eight-month study of 10 children in ClarkÂ’s classroom, which will include the use of a SMART Board interactive whiteboard that is provided by the foundation. The project culminates with a final research paper that details the studyÂ’s outcomes.
Clark said an added benefit of the research is that MacArthur Early Childhood Center will be able to keep the interactive whiteboard and floor stand, which can be used in all MacArthur classrooms at the conclusion of the study.
“We are using the interactive whiteboard to teach early literacy skills, such as alphabet knowledge, spatial arrangements and phonological awareness to students with disabilities at MacArthur,” Clark explained.
Nordness added that while many education professionals recognize the importance of using technology for instruction, there is a limited amount of quantitative research that can demonstrate student improvement with technology.
“Reports from the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research indicate that students with disabilities are not being prepared to use technology for learning,” Nordness, who will study the design, data collection and implementation of the program, said. “Through this study and this grant program, we hope to add to the limited base of research on how technology can be used to enhance learning for students with disabilities.
“This is an exciting collaboration,” Nordness added. “Western special education students will benefit by assisting with data collection and learning more about teaching with technology, but more importantly students with disabilities will benefit from the enhanced learning opportunity that’s now available at MacArthur.”
Posted By: Darcie Shinberger (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
Office of University Communications & Marketing
Connect with us: