MUNCIE, Ind. -- Gov. Frank O'Bannon sat with a group of Ball State University students Sept. 17, observing how technology is radically changing education.

During his tour of the Center for Teaching Technology, the governor interacted with teaching majors who were observing the third grade class of Burris Laboratory School instructor Steve Ransom. While the youngsters were creating "animals" for a study of camouflage, elementary education majors observed how Ransom worked in the classroom.

"Hands-on instruction seems to be far more interesting to the (Burris) students than watching a video or looking at pictures in a book," O'Bannon told Courtney Roussel, an elementary education major from Fort Wayne, as he watched the monitor.

Roussel sat with O'Bannon during the classroom visit, explaining how her portable computer was used to take notes about the class. Her observations will create an electronic learning module that Burris students will use this semester.

"I think the governor understood how important it is that we, as teaching majors, learn how to integrate technology into the classroom," Roussel said. "Some day I hope to teach kindergartners. They should be at the age that they want to learn and the computer will help me to help them.

"This also gives us a head start in learning how to work with students before we go into the classroom," she said. "It has helped me get acquainted with the ins and outs of teaching and interacting with students even before I step into a classroom."

Because the Center for Teaching Technology offers Ball State students a thorough education of classroom technology, graduates are able to work in an increasingly technologically-based world, said Gary Pavlechko, center director.

The center, which opened its new home in Teachers College earlier this year, helps Ball State faculty members and Indiana school teachers improve their skills and redesign daily lesson plans around computer technology. About 20 school corporations and 200 public school teachers from around the state have already worked with the center.

The center has an eight-station multimedia laboratory for faculty to develop educational technology and a 33-station interactive video teaching room, which provides facilities for video conferences.

O'Bannon also talked with a team of teachers from East Noble High School in Kendallville, Ind., to learn how they were assisted by the center in developing an Internet-based instructional program about human evolution.

"Because of the program, our students are very excited about science," said Tom McConnell, a high school biology teacher. "I look forward to working with other teachers and school systems around the state through professional development programs like this."

(NOTE TO EDITORS: For more information, contact Pavlechko at gpavlech@bsu.edu or by phone at 765-285-5806.)