Southeastern NEWS

                                                       Southeastern Louisiana University
                                           Public Information Office
                                           publicinfo@selu.edu
                                           SLU 880, Hammond, LA 70402
                                           504/549-2341/fax 504-549-2061
    Date: 2/2/99
      Contact:                           Carol Dotson   1

EDITORS: PHOTO ACCOMPANIES RELEASE
SLU TESTING GROUND FOR UPCOMING TECHNOLOGY
     HAMMOND -- Southeastern Louisiana University and Casio, Inc., have entered
into a partnership that allows the university to use state-of-the art digital equipment,
which is not yet on the market, while providing Casio with research and development
consultation.
     Southeastern is serving as a testing ground for Casio's latest technical products
which include handheld personal computers, digital cameras, color printers and support
software. Product testing and evaluation began last fall in three Southeastern classes. 
     "This is a unique industry/university partnership," said Beatrice Baldwin, assistant
vice-president for Institutional Planning and Research. "This is the only partnership
Casio has with an American university. Casio wanted to know how well the products
were received, not only in university classrooms, but also in secondary and elementary
school classrooms. With our strong teacher education program and good relationships
with elementary and high schools in the area, Southeastern was in the ideal position for
this partnership," said Baldwin.
     In the fall Southeastern students, faculty, staff and elementary school children
used the products in classroom and laboratory teaching/learning environments. Those
courses included an education course where the equipment was used in writing activities
with SLU students and students at Westside Elementary school in Hammond. The
elementary students used the A-20 handheld PCs to complete sentences with missing
words, selecting from a word list or phonemic clue. The students also used the map
function to locate cities around the world and established e-mail pals in various
countries. The Southeastern students used the equipment to create lesson plans, visual
aids and presentations. 

                                                -more-

ADD ONE/Casio & SLU partnership

      The products were tested for flexibility and capability. The participants reported
the strengths and weaknesses of the equipment and recommended future adaptations.
     This semester four classes in education, biology and math will utilize the
equipment. Approximately 120 students and faculty will test the equipment in
"Elementary Curriculum and Instruction," "Special Methods in High School Subjects,"
"Wetland Ecology" and "Elementary Statistics." Southeastern will expand its focus on
the use of the equipment as a student resource tool and the adaptation necessary for
marketability in the educational field. 
     "We have been pleased and excited to work with Casio, both their officials from
Japan as well as the corporation's U.S. staff," said Randy Moffett, provost and vice-
president for academic affairs at Southeastern. "This is a good learning experience for
our students and faculty. Hopefully our usage of the equipment and the feedback we'll be
able to share, will help Casio make a better product to fit educational needs throughout
the world." 


                                          -SLU-
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              www.selu.edu/NewsEvents/PublicInfoOffice/newsp99.htm