Nik Hunnicutt is the Instructional Technology Consultant. Take advantage of his expertise in Blackboard.
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Technology Initiative
In 1995, C.D. Spangler, President of the University of North Carolina, the Chairman of the State Board of Education, and the President of the North Carolina Community College System announced a major initiative to provide assistance to the public schools of the state by developing and implementing a comprehensive plan for addressing the technology-related professional development needs of the state's current education workforce.
A School Technology Users Task Force was appointed and charged with developing a plan for the technology professional development of educators. The group studied state and national reports on technology use among teachers and school administrators, as well as research on effective professional development. They had conversations with teachers and administrators and key persons involved in technology-related professional development in the state. A set of technology competencies (basic and advanced) was developed with the recommendation that preservice teachers be required to pass a technology test based on the basic competencies and submit a successful portfolio demonstrating mastery of the advanced competencies. These would become requirements for receiving an initial teaching license in Spring 1999. One-time funds were allocated to each campus for upgrading the technology infrastructure for teacher education. Recurring funds were provided to employ an instructional technology specialist to train fa culty to utilize instructional technology. The technology test (ETSI) is no longer given; however, the basic competencies are still required.
In 2002, the State Board of Education approved the National Educational Technology Standards for Teachers (NETS-T) for program approval. They replaced the North Carolina Technology Competencies for Educators. Teacher Education at UNCG transitioned to these national standards in 2001-2002.