Small Town Kids Explore Austin through Videoconferencing
The Learning Technology Center's IDEA Studio continued its exploration of videoconferencing this year, using the technology in a variety of ways to improve support of apprentice and induction teachers, and virtually bridging great distances to bring collaborative groups of learners together.

Fiber Channel will Provide Large-Scale Back-up Service
A fiber channel system, recently installed in the College's server room, will allow the LTC to provide the next generation of network service, including a large capacity back-up service for faculty and staff, an e-portfolio service for students, and increased server speed and flexibility.

LTC to Support Development of Handheld Applications
The College of Education has received Information Technology Advisory Committee (ITAC) funding to pilot the instructional use of handheld devices such as Palm Pilots. The ITAC support will allow the Learning Technology Center to purchase at least one classroom set of handheld devices, as well as some software and peripheral devices.

The LTC Thanks All Who Came to our Open House
The Learning Technology Center would like to warmly thank all of you who came to our Open House earlier this week. We hope you had as much fun as we did and that you enjoyed the food and all the technology demos.

LTC to Conduct Research on Online Professional Development
The LTC has partnered with Edvance Research, Inc. in its successful effort to be chosen by the IES to run the Southwestern Regional Educational Laboratory, one of ten educational laboratories in the Regional Educational Laboratory Network, which are run by the IES to support research-based school reform.

LTC Director Paul E. Resta & C&I Faculty Member Nancy Roser Receive the 2006 Dean's Distinguished Faculty Award
Each year, College of Education Dean Manuel J. Justiz honors a faculty member who, over the length of a career, has excelled in research, teaching, and service. Praising Dr. Resta, Dean Justiz said, “Your influence, here and in the field of education at large, is phenomenal, and we have been incredibly lucky to claim you as our own for all of these years. Congratulations on this prestigious award—you are very deserving.”

LIFE Coordinator Attends Focus Group Meeting at Apple, Inc. Headquarters
Melissa Tothero, the LTC's coordinator for the Laptop Initiative for Future Educators (LIFE), attended a meeting June 28-29 at the Cupertino, California headquarters of Apple, Inc. that brought together fourteen leaders of one-to-one technology initiatives at higher education institutions.

Students Have Fun, Improve Writing Skills at AISD Tech Camp
This summer, a group of Austin 4th and 5th graders learned a lot about writing. But it wasn't through the usual less-than-exciting summer school fare. They had fun as they used technology to create color-printed, hardbound books made up of their own stories and photographs.

LTC Hires Application Development Specialist
The Learning Technology Center has hired Shaun McCormick to serve as the Application Development Specialist for its Technical and Network Services team. In this new Computer Programmer position, Shaun will be responsible for developing or updating Web-based applications for the LTC.

Two Vision Award recipients were winners in the 2006 Innovative Instructional Technology Awards Program
Three of the six IITAP winners were from the College of Education. Two of those, Dr. Larry Abraham's Biomechanical Analysis of Human Movement and Dr. Aaron Rochlen’s Applying Counseling Theories Website, were COE Vision Award projects developed in collaboration with the IDEA Studio.