Welcome to the ETRA Express, our newsletter for students, faculty, and alumni!
I’m Wei-Chen Hung, chair of the Department of Educational Technology, Research and Assessment, and I am pleased to provide you with news and important ETRA information.
Our department has come through the pandemic stronger than ever, as you’ll see in the many inspiring stories in the newsletter. Please enjoy reading about the many interesting activities and accomplishments shared here.
You’ll see in the newsletter that NIU has once again made the news for scoring high in the graduate program world report rankings.
In our own department, we’ve continued contributing to improving K-12 education through research and service. For example, more than 600 students in grades two to four in Naperville participated in robotic learning to promote STEM knowledge and develop of computational thinking. Another example is the Technology Specialist Endorsement partnership we built with North Chicago SD187, where we are preparing district teachers to become technology coaches.
Focusing on our faculty, Associate Professor Laura Ruth Johnson has forged a partnership with Loiza, Puerto Rico, to create a computer technology center for underserved populations. Senior Faculty Fellow Pi-Sui Hsu continues to deliver effective STEM learning to transform the K-12 experience. Working in the Rockford Public Schools, Dr. Hsu promotes scientific argumentation to sixth graders.
Are you thinking about your future and career development opportunities? Our award-winning program offerings continue to expand; in fact, we offer a new endorsement in computer science. If you hold a Professional Educator License, you can complete the requirements for an endorsement in Computer Science through ETRA as part of the degree program for the M.S.Ed. in Instructional Technology with a 5-12 Computer Science concentration.
Individuals interested in the endorsement in Computer Science should contact the program advisor, Judy Puskar, for details (815-753-6085; jpuskar@niu.edu).
Please check all of our offerings on the ETRA website.
With the pandemic restrictions disappearing, this is a great time to come back for an advanced degree, certificate or endorsement. We would love to help you reach your career and professional development goals, and we will work with you to help you get there. Again, contact Judy Puskar to find out how our many program offerings can help you.
It’s great to stay in touch, and I hope you enjoy reading about the many exciting successes and opportunities at ETRA.
Wei-Chen Hung, Ph.D.
Professor and Department Chair
815-753-8175 | whung@niu.edu
