The overriding vision for this project is to provide technological knowledge and experience for the widest possible cohort of future teachers at pedagogically appropriate points in their pre-service education, thereby maximizing creative and effective use of technology in all P-12 instructional settings regardless of geographic location or economic condition. For this to occur, two-year institutions must be brought into the network and comprehensive organizational change must occur so that higher education at all levels models the environment which 21st century teachers want to create in their own classrooms.
Our primary goals are:
1. To change the learning environment for Andrew College education majors to incorporate mastery of basic technological skills and early and continuous introduction and application of technology integration.
2. To impact positively and directly on the assimilation of technology
into P-12 schools and classrooms in Georgia's most disadvantaged rural counties.
3. To initiate a comprehensive network for preparing teachers to use technology by identifying and including future teachers who will pursue both traditional and alternative methods for entering the profession.
4. To facilitate statewide and nationwide replication of a model program that uses the networking and instructional strengths of public and private two-year institutions to prepare tomorrow's teachers to use technology.
The PT3 project involves the following audiences in a networked, P-16 learning environment: 1) pre-service teachers enrolled in two-year college education courses; 2) two-year college faculty from all disciplines; 3) returning adult students, including currently employed paraprofessionals with one or more years of college but without sufficient exposure to technology to enter junior level education programs; 4) teacher leaders in participating county schools; 5) parents and community/business leaders; 6) ultimately and most importantly, the children in the four county school systems
