Technology collaboratives for simultaneous renewal in teacher education

The Technology Collaboratives (TechCo)for Simultaneous Renewal in Teacher Education project, based in John Goodlad's theory of simultaneous renewal (1994), is described. The project is a systemic approach to using technology to help facilitate renewal in both teacher education and K-12 schools. Project features include cohort groups of students with laptop computers, faculty development programs, teacher development programs for collaborating schools, and curriculum development in both teacher education and K-6 partner schools. Evaluation for the project uses a descriptive approach that includes a model developed for the project to better evaluate the systemic change goals of the project. Evaluation results suggest changing attitudes and capabilities of preservice teachers, major course changes from faculty, plus the strength of the mentoring model for faculty and teacher development. The project is beginning to demonstrate simultaneous renewal of teacher education and four K-6 schools.