The Penn State College of Education received a school-record-setting $6.5 million gift to invest in new technology, the Daily Collegian reports.
Gay Krause, a graduate of the College of Education, and her husband Bill endowed the gift for the Krause Innovation Studio, a facility that will be devoted to state-of-the-art educational technologies.
Krause, who worked as a schoolteacher and administrator, said she believes it is important to create an interactive classroom that allows for individualized education plans. She said she hopes Penn State will be able to do this through the Krause Innovation Studio.
Educators say introducing new technology, such as an interactive whiteboard or a classroom projector, helps keeps students engaged and encourages participation in lectures.
College of Education Dean David Monk said the endowment for the facility will put Penn State students on the cutting edge of new technologies, but added that the technology in education should be an end to itself.
Stewardship and public relations specialist for the College of Education David Price said he hopes construction on the Krause Innovation Studio will begin in the summer, and designs are ongoing.
