CCSD Resources - Information for Project Thread Cooperating Teachers

Overview of Project THREAD

The College of Education at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas has consistently worked together with the Clark County School District to prepare pre-service teachers for the challenges of 21st century classrooms. In order to assist with these challenges, UNLV was awarded a three-year grant by the United States Department of Education. This grant, titled Project THREAD (Technology: Helping Restructure Educational Access and Delivery) is part of the federal Preparing Tomorrow's Teachers to Use Technology (PT3) Program. This grant represents a collaboration between UNLV and CCSD to provide the necessary resources to equip future teachers with the knowledge, skills, and dispositions they need to thrive in tomorrow's technology-rich classrooms.

The goal of the project is to provide a comprehensive professional development program that introduces pre-service teachers to effective models for integrating technology in active, student-centered learning environments. Participants in this comprehensive project include university faculty, CCSD personnel, administrators, field supervisors, and K-12 cooperating teachers.

In order to achieve the goal of technology integration across all aspects of pre-service education, several initiatives have been implemented, including:

• a mini-grant program for university faculty that supports the development of technology-based course modules in university classes,
• creating technology-infused university courses based on the National Educational Technology Standards for Teachers (NETS*T),
• a coordinated field placement system that places student teaching applicants with technology-using cooperating teachers,
• additional staff development that is focused on technology integration for cooperating teachers at designated schools,
• experimental university classes focused on the use of technology in the classroom, designed to support cooperating teachers working with student teachers at designated schools.

Through these collaborative initiatives, the grant seeks to move from pockets of technology integration toward widespread infusion in all aspects of our teacher preparation program. The goal of Project THREAD is to support the integration of technology into preservice teacher education courses and field experiences through a partnership between the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and the Clark County School District. During the 2001-2002 school year, Project THREAD and CCSD personnel worked jointly with cooperating teachers at Ira Earl Elementary School, Will Beckley Elementary School, C. V. T. Gilbert Elementary School, K.O. Knudson Middle School, Roy Martin Middle School, and Desert Pines High School.

• Joint CCSD/ UNLV Workshops for Cooperating Teachers
• National Educational Technology Standards for Teachers
• Technology Expectations for Cooperating Teachers and Student Teachers
• Frequently Asked Questions