IUP department featured on PBS

From: The Penn Online - Apr 24, 2003

Jonathan Derr
Penn Staff Writer

The IUP Education of deaf/hard of hearing persons department is considered to be a model program, and PBS will feature a special about the program because they use techniques in teaching that not many other deaf and hard of hearing programs do.

The special will not be available to affiliates until September and the head of this department, Diane Klein, is unsure as to when the special will be aired because it's up to the affiliates when to air it.

"There are only 68 programs in the entire United States, which is a very small number, considering the number of teachers we need," Klein said.

"PBS was looking for a program that uses a lot of technology when educating their students. The Association of College Educators of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing identified us as a model program in using technology in training these students to become teachers," she said.

One of these technology tools a student in the program must learn to use is a Smart Board.

"All students are required to teach to their peers using a Smart Board, which is a large white board that is touch interactive.

"All students in the program must be able to use this effectively," Klein said.

The program has been in place since 1980 and happens to be the only four-year undergraduate program of its kind in Pennsylvania.

When students graduate from the program, they can teach K-12 immediately.

"Ninety-nine percent of our graduates get jobs right after graduation," Klein said.

"We are very proud of our graduates and hope to continue having such a successful program."

The department is located in Davis Hall.

© 2003 The Penn Online