MUNCIE, Ind. -- More than 100 Indiana public school superintendents, the state superintendent of public instruction, and the governor's executive assistant for education gather Feb. 12 in an effort to understand where technology is taking them.

The meeting, hosted by the Ball State University Center for Teaching Technology, is intended to show the superintendents how the university has successfully used computer and telecommunications technology to enhance its classroom teaching, and seek ways to support the use of technology in K-12 classrooms.

"This is a collaborative effort," said Duane Eddy, executive assistant for technology to Ball State's president. "We have learned valuable information about using technology that can be helpful to public school administrators wrestling with expensive decisions as they purchase hardware and software.

"We are gathering information that our graduates will need to know to teach with technology, as well as looking for opportunities to assist current public school teachers to improve their teaching."

Eddy said the level of involvement in technology among the state's school systems ranges from "extremely advanced," to "just getting started," with some of the smaller school districts the most advanced.

The planning meeting is intended to identify the technology infrastructure now in place throughout the state, the hardware and software being used, and how to apply it most effectively in public school classrooms.

"We'll take the information and put together the programs that will help both the public schools and the university," said Eddy.

Approximately 110 superintendents are expected to attend the day-long session on the Ball State campus. Indiana Superintendent of Public Instruction Suellen Reed speaks to the group at 11 a.m. and Kathy Smith, the governor's executive assistant for education, presents the luncheon keynote address.

Ball State also is hosting two workshops later this month to provide information to school technical staff.