Southeast Kansas teachers create free resource for teachers across U.S.
Wednesday, April 8, 2020 12:00 PM
People and Society, Science and Technology, Alumni, News, Giving Back, Academics
Pittsburg, KS
Two technology teachers from Southeast Kansas — one from Parsons and one from Oswego — are helping connect teachers from across the U.S. during the COVID-19 pandemic with web-based curriculum and teaching strategies.
Parsons Technology and Engineering Education teacher Trevor Maiseroulle, a 2016 graduate of PSU’s Technology Education program, collaborated with Oswego Industrial Technology teacher Chris Ball, a 2017 graduate of PSU's Career & Technical Education program, to develop a shared drive of lessons in all career clusters and pathways.
Their goal?
“We originally set out to help the members of the Kansas Technology and Engineering Education Association,” said Maiseroulle, who serves as president of KTEEA. Ball is a member.
To date, more than 400 teachers have accessed the drive, including 219 teachers from Kansas, 16 from New York, five from Oklahoma, four from Missouri, four from Arkansas, two from Wisconsin, two from Nebraska, one from Connecticut, one from Pennsylvania, and one from New Jersey.
“We've touched upon every career cluster and pathway identified by ACTE,” Maiseroulle said. “We have lessons that were submitted by teachers in the areas of construction, woodworking, welding, agriculture, photography, video production, automotive, and many others.”
The two also created a folder that encompasses elementary STEM education and are uploading free resources from Pittsburg-based DEPCO, LLC, and the International Technology Engineering Educators Association. And, they’re teaming up with the Technology Education Association of Missouri to help provide their members with resources.
“Pretty amazing that what was a small idea to help connect local area teachers has grown into such a large-scale effort,” Maiseroulle said.
KTEEA is paying for the cost of the drive to help store all of the files.
“Trevor is such a great role model and asset to the educational system,” said Andy Klenke, chair of the Technology and Workforce Learning Department at PSU.
Chris Ball
Greg Belcher, founding director of the Kansas Center for Career and Technical Education at PSU, said the same is true of Ball.
“Chris is an individual who is always looking at ways to help out his colleagues and to make his profession stronger,” Belcher said.
Both Maiseroulle and Ball already are looking ahead to beyond the pandemic to the possibility of making a presentation about the project during the 72nd Annual Four State Regional Technology Conference planned for November at the Kansas Technology Center at PSU, home to the College of Technology.
Despite the challenges and stay-at-home orders that limit hands-on learning, Maiseroulle chooses to remain positive and optimistic.
“This actually is an exciting time for technical education across the nation,” he said.
Want access?
To access the shared drive, teachers and school administrators may email Maiseroulle at tmaiseroulle@vikingnet.net, using an email address connected to a Google account.