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Grant-funded Training Promotes Effective Teaching with Technology
OLYMPIA, April 19, 2010 — A total of
100 grants were awarded to teachers eager to learn more about successful teaching strategies that integrate technology, the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction announced today.
Grant awardees for the Teaching & Learning in the 21st Century (TL21) program
receive $7,600 for the 2010-2011 school year. TL21 is designed to merge
effective instructional and assessment techniques with real-world technologies.
“TL21 is exactly what teachers need — professional development that helps
them to become more effective in the classroom,” said State Superintendent Randy
Dorn. “I’m all for great teaching that uses technology to motivate kids to
learn. It’s critical. We’re working hard to make sure there’s money for
technology in the state budget and I’m excited to see how federally-funded
programs like TL21 sync up with what we’re doing here in Washington.”
The program is structured in two phases: hands-on training that develops
strong proficiencies with digital technologies, and the study and practice of
instructional strategies that integrate technology into standards-based
curricula. Teachers will learn how to shift classroom-based activities from
teacher-led to student-centered.
“Technology integration is not an end in itself,” said Dennis Small, director
of Educational Technology at OSPI. “Hardware and software are just two elements
of the learning environment. The key to powerful teaching and learning is to
couple the right technology with the right instructional strategy and build
every learning activity around strong standards-based curricula. That’s what the
Teaching and Learning in the 21st Century grants are designed to do.”
Grant eligibility is based on district location and demographics. Districts
must meet strict federal eligibility requirements:
- Highest percentage of children from families with incomes below the poverty line (the percentage of children ages 5-17 must be higher than the statewide average of 13.93 percent, as measured by the latest census), AND
- Serve one or more schools identified for improvement, OR
- Did not meet Annual Yearly Progress, OR
- Have a substantial need for assistance with the purchase and
use of technology.
The Teaching and Learning in the 21st Century Grant Program is funded federally through the Enhancing Education Through Technology program, a component of Title II, Part D of the federal No Child Left Behind Act. Money for the grants will come from the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.
The Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) is the primary agency charged with overseeing K-12 education in Washington state. Led by State School Superintendent Randy Dorn, OSPI works with the state’s 295 school districts and nine Educational Service Districts to administer basic education programs and implement education reform on behalf of more than one million public school students.
OSPI does not discriminate and provides equal access to its programs and services for all persons without regard to race, color, gender, religion, creed, marital status, national origin, sexual preference/orientation, age, veteran’s status or the presence of any physical, sensory or mental disability.
CONTACT:
Nathan Olson
OSPI Communications Manager
(360) 725-6015
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