UI Professor Gwen Kelly^Receives State Teacher Award from IPTV
Wednesday, December 20 2000
Dec. 20, 2000 MOSCOW – For some students, mathematics might seem as easy as jumping rope or winning a game of tic-tac-toe, but for others it requires patience and a lot of practice. ^ Gwen Kelly, University of Idaho math education professor, makes this particular education equation much easier for students and teachers alike. By implementing videos and computer software into the curriculum, Kelly says, students can retain knowledge more readily and become more engaged in learning.^ Kelly was recently named Idaho’s National Teacher Training Institute (NTTI) Teacher of the Year, which is sponsored by Idaho Public Television. She was honored for her use of video and other technological tools in the classroom. As a recipient, she receives a $250 stipend and a set of mathematics videos – for classroom use – from the local NTTI program. ^ This year, Idaho Public Television and UI began preparing future teachers for the classroom with specific strategies and techniques to utilize video and other media that enhances teaching and learning. ^ Kelly was one of the first UI professors who encouraged her students to produce their own lesson plans incorporating video and other technologies. But she warns, “Never use technology for technology sake.”^ Teachers should not just turn on the video, and let the students ‘glaze over,’ she says. “Stop the video and ask the students questions; make it an interactive process.”^ According to Kris Freeland, IdahoPTV educational specialist, “Gwen Kelly is a champion of using video in her classroom. She has taken it beyond just using it in the classroom by training students at the university and she has taken it into workshops for in-service teachers statewide.”^The Public Broadcasting System (PBS) is a beneficial resource for teachers, especially in the field of mathematics, Kelly notes. Teachers are able to tape lessons from PBS, which are “block-fed” to viewers during the early morning hours. Teachers can tape these episodes for use in their classrooms. Some shows also have interdisciplinary themes, so students learn how mathematics is shaped by other subjects, such as anthropology. “PBS is a rich resource for teachers,” Kelly adds. “It’s a chance to utilize the expertise and know-how of other professionals in the field or related fields. Plus, it’s a way to make learning fun.”^ Idaho Public Television works with UI to promote using technology as part of daily lesson plans in elementary and secondary classrooms. She says, “Technology is absolutely essential to doing your job. And, we should use these resources in the best way we can.”^ Kelly is a pro when it comes to teaching; she has taught at the university since 1970, with a previous role teaching mathematics to middle through high school-age students. She earned her master’s degree in mathematics in 1972, and completed her doctorate degree at Washington State University in 1979. NTTI was founded in 1989 and as of this year, the project has trained more than 135,000 teachers.^ Kelly’s web site can be viewed at www.its.uidaho.edu/mathed/. Contact: Gwen Kelly, College of Education, (208) 885-6190, gkelly@uidaho.edu or Leslie Einhaus, University Communications and Marketing, (208) 885-6489, lesliee@uidaho.edu.^-30-^^le-12/20/00-EDU^ ^^^
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The University of Idaho helps students to succeed and become leaders. Its land-grant mission furthers innovative scholarly and creative research to grow Idaho's economy and serve a statewide community. From its main campus in Moscow, Idaho, to 70 research and academic locations statewide, U-Idaho emphasizes real-world application as part of its student experience. U-Idaho combines the strength of a large university with the intimacy of small learning communities. It is home to the Vandals. For information, visit www.uidaho.edu.