The project ensures that best
practices in math instruction (content knowledge, pedagogical content
knowledge, and instructional strategies), coaching, technology integration,
podcasting, and professional development are implemented. The research-based,
instructionally sound podcasts will concentrate on critical 4th grade math concepts for dissemination to teachers and students throughout the
state. These can be used during Tier 1 (primary) instruction or Tier 2 interventions
provided to students identified as at-risk and who require specific supports to
make adequate progress in Core concepts as directed by the Response to
Intervention strategies.
Goals of EMED
1. Student Achievement: Decrease the number of 4th grade students not proficient in mathematics by 10% through the Implementation
of research-based instructional practices and integrating effective technology
solutions.
2. Technology Enhanced Instruction: Develop well-designed podcasts of
high quality, research-based instruction on critical 4th grade math
concepts through the effective integration of technology resources and systems
by:
a. Providing high quality professional
development in full compliance with National Staff Development Standards,
b. Providing onsite and virtual
classroom support and coaching
Professional Development for Teachers: Three teachers per district will
participate in the grant. Teachers will receive an annual stipend of $1700 for
attending all professional development, creating high quality podcasts, and
participating in collegial discussions on WIMBA. In addition, the cost for
substitutes needed in order for teachers to attend face-to-face training in
October of 2009 and March of 2010 will be provided.
Equipment
Expenses: Each
teacher will receive the needed hardware and software to enable them to participate fully in the project activities. The purchase will be spread over
the two years of the grant. This includes a laptop with Microsoft Office suite,
a flip camera to capture video for the podcasts, an iPod Touch to play
podcasts, and headphone/microphone for use in recording audio for podcasts. The
teachers will also receive a document camera for classroom use. The equipment
will belong to each individual district but is for the individual teacher’s use
as long as they continue in project activities.
Conference
Expenses: Three
face-to-face professional development sessions will occur during the first year of the grant. They are built around existing conferences: 2009 Rural School
Conference in Cedar City in July, Utah Council for Teachers of Mathematics in
October, and Utah Council for Educational Technology. Participants will be able to attend some of the conferences’
sessions in addition to specific EMED-related training. The cost for conference
registration and hotel reservations for those who must travel long distances is
covered by the grant.
Category 2: Infrastructure Development through Professional Development
Collaboration of Utah Technical Specialists (CUTS)
The Collaboration of
Utah Technical Specialists (CUTS) project will provide sustained, job embedded,
just-in-time technical training, shared resources, coaching and consulting for
the educational technical specialists throughout the qualifying
school districts in the State of Utah. As a result, the students,
teachers and staff in our schools will have a more consistent and stable
technology-learning environment.
Throughout the many districts in the State, the technical specialists
are asked to resolve and troubleshoot extremely difficult issues
with minimal funding and support. District networks have become
increasingly complex and security issues are time consuming to say the least.
The workload and the complexity of the technical specialists job has
increased to the point where it's difficult to be successful and is almost
impossible for them to help implement technology solutions in their districts
without additional training and resources. In too many cases, a technical
specialist will work many hours, if not weeks, trying to implement a new
technology or resolve an existing technical issue because of their
lack of expertise, training and or support. Implementation and many technical
issues could be resolved in the matter of minutes if the technical specialists
were able to bring to their districts the technical expertise and or
resources needed. The CUTS project will provide the necessary funding to help address these specific needs
as well as a forum for sharing resources, knowledge and expertise throughout
the State of Utah.
The CUTS program is a partnership that includes all qualifying
urban and rural school district in the State along with state, and regional entities
to improve the use of technology to enhance instruction. All seven Technology
Coordinator Council (TCC) regions in the State will participate in the
project and each will receive $16,000.00 to implement the needed
hands-on technical training and support.
The CUTS project increases student achievement by providing an
effective and reliable technology infrastructure for teachers to use as they
move toward a technology project-based learning environment.
Goals:
1. Provide reliable,
robust and secure computer systems and networks in the schools by
providing the district technical specialists job embedded, hands-on
training, support and resources when needed.
2. Provide a forum
for district technical specialists to share ideas, knowledge and
resources that will enable them to better support their teachers as they
effectively use technology in the classroom.
For additional information on both of these grants please see
the "EETT Grant Documents" section.
