Dean's Technology Initiative

The Dean's Technology Initiative began in 1997, when the teacher education students in Cohort A were loaned Apple Macintosh PowerBooks. Preloaded with software, the PowerBooks allowed students to send email, use TeachNet's collaborative features, surf the Web, and use applications to complete coursework. LTC staff configured and loaned the computers and answered technical questions for students.

All involved agreed the Initiative was successful in enhancing the students' experience in many ways. It was expanded a year later to include another cohort. In January 2000, three more cohorts were added, an increase in 35 students and laptops. Students used their laptops in their student teaching to create and show presentations and to find content and teaching materials on the Web. The success of the Dean's Laptop Initiative led to the 2002 implementation of the Student Laptop Initiative, in which all professional development students were required to purchase an Apple iBook.