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Pennsylvania's Educational Technology Expo Focusing on Need for Science, Technology Education Tools

Posted on: Monday, 20 February 2006, 12:00 CST

HERSHEY, Pa., Feb. 20 /PRNewswire/ -- Teachers, school administrators and students from across the state are learning about the latest in classroom technologies at the third annual Pennsylvania Educational Technology Expo and Conference (PETE&C) at the Hershey Lodge and Convention Center.

The conference, which offers workshops to enhance educators' skills, began Sunday and runs through tomorrow.

"Through Governor Rendell's Pennsylvania Competes initiative, our students will be better prepared to compete in a global economy," said Education Secretary Dr. Gerald L. Zahorchak. "Events like this expo and conference help educators shape programs and new educational initiatives to better prepare students for the challenges that await them."

Governor Rendell recently proposed an unprecedented $8.7 billion investment in pre-kindergarten through 12th grade education, a $517 million, or 6.4 percent, increase for this year.

His proposal includes several investments in science- and technology- related initiatives, like the $20 million Classrooms for the Future that would put a laptop computer on every English, Math, Science and Social Studies classroom desk in 100 high schools across the state. An additional $6 million would fund two days of teacher training, ongoing online support and technology coaches for every two high schools, and a technology teacher in each building.

Additionally, $10 million would be invested in "Science: It's Elementary," which will enable students in 150 elementary schools to become scientists in the classroom.

Also, the Governor is proposing an investment of nearly $60 million in career and technical centers during the 2006-07 budget year, or 2.5 percent more than this year.

PETE&C is a collaborative effort of the Pennsylvania Department of Education, the Pennsylvania Intermediate Unit Instructional Materials Services Directors, Pennsylvania Association of School Business Officials and the Pennsylvania Association for Educational Communications and Technology.

More than 200 concurrent sessions focusing on a wide array of technological enhancements are being provided at the conference. Some of the seminars include literacy skill enhancement, database building, online mentoring for student teachers, creating performance assessments and providing virtual field trips.

Dozens of these sessions are also geared towards administrator/teacher training and development, including the advantages of using podcasting, building digital portfolios, using web-based processes for strategic planning and implementation, and transforming web pages into virtual classrooms. Teachers are eligible to receive required Act 48 certification credits through participating in these sessions.

Through last year's Job Ready Pennsylvania initiative, Governor Rendell proposed a five-year, $80 million investment in state-of-the-art career and technical education equipment and curriculums. The launch of this program has enabled Pennsylvania to closely link career and technical education programs to business and industry needs and to labor market trends.

For more information on the Pennsylvania Educational Technology Expo and Conference, visit http://www.peteandc.org/.

CONTACT: Brian McDonald, Pennsylvania Department of Education, +1-717-574-8710 (cell).

First Call Analyst: FCMN Contact:

Pennsylvania Department of Education

CONTACT: Brian McDonald, Pennsylvania Department of Education,+1-717-574-8710 (cell)

Web site: http://www.state.pa.us/http://www.peteandc.org/

Source: PRNewswire

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