May 23, 2010

Innovative Instructional Programs

Filed under: May 2010 — mbrown @ 10:14 pm

        … discover great ways to improve student achievement


http://www.emints.org/
The eMINTS instructional model has revolutionized the way teachers teach and students learn for more than 2,000 classrooms and 38,000 students in grades 3-12. The program was developed through a partnership with the University of Missouri, MDESE, and the Missouri Department of Higher Education. This research-based model has been so successful in improving student performance that it has expanded from a handful of classrooms in Missouri to programs in Maine, Utah, Nevada, Alabama, and soon New South Wales, Australia.

Classrooms that will participate in eMINTS are first equipped with technology such as an internet connection, interactive whiteboard, teacher laptop, printer and scanner, projector, digital camera, and student laptops. eMINTS teachers undergo 250 hours of intensive onsite training throughout the year by eMINTS staff or teachers certified to train eMINTS teachers. The training consists of onsite training and online follow-up training and support.

Professional development and support is a key ingredient in the eMINTS program and it is the first program to receive the ISTE Seal of Alignment. This is awarded to professional development programs that are of rich quality and provide many examples of ways to meet the National Educational Technology Standards (NETS).

Visit the eMINTS Web site for complete details about pricing for eMINTS professional development programs, equipment requirements, and how to duplicate the eMINTS program in your school or district.

Technology Rich Classrooms – Kansas
Technology Rich Classrooms is an innovative program in Kansas funded by Title II.D funds for Enhancing Education Through Technology (EETT). Classrooms throughout Kansas have been making the most of their technology funds and facilitating positive changes in student learning by transforming classrooms into active learning environments and providing teachers with the professional development they need to implement advanced levels of technology into reading, math, and science.

Each TRC classroom is first equipped with the minimum technology requirements needed to successfully implement the program:

2:1 Student to Computer Ratio (laptops or desktops)
Interactive Whiteboard
Media Projector
Digital Still Camera
Printer
Scanner
Internet Access
Software to support instruction and curriculum projects

Teachers then participate in a Web-enhanced lesson planning course called TRC Boot camp. They leave boot camp with the essential skills they need to begin using the technology in their classroom in effective and engaging ways. They are then provided with ongoing professional development, resources, and support so they continue to grow their skills and implement them in new and exciting ways with their students.

The TRC Web site is available at http://trc.altec.org and there you can access TRC news, best practice examples from TRC classrooms, and upcoming TRC events. If you are interested in implementing the TRC program in your own school or district, ALTEC provides professional development for TRC and can answer any questions you have about the program.

eMINTS and TRC are just two instructional models available to you, if you’re interested in implementing a similar program at your school feel free to visit the Web sites to learn more about how to get started.

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