What Is The Technology Rich Classrooms Project?
"Technology is not the magic pill, but it is the electronic carrot that motivates, engages, and inspires"
-Brad Niessen
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In 1993, two intermediate classrooms from Cloud and Linwood Elementary were selected to be part of a grant funded by the . After seeing such great success with the first four classrooms; in 2004, four additional schools were added using local funding, Irving and Woodland. In 2005, Irving received another grant from the Kansas Department of Education to fund additional classrooms, in 2006 Pleasant Valley Elementary was added. Anderson Elementary was awarded the grant in 2007 as well. As of to date, Wichita Public Schools currently has sixteen Technology Rich Classrooms in place. The Technology Rich Classroom Grant (TRC), which is modeled after the state wide initiative in Missouri called eMints, funds the purchasing of technology in each classroom and intensive professional development for the teachers.
The purpose of the TRC Project is to provide evidence that the immersion of technologies into the learning environment, which is supported by strong, ongoing professional development, can produce positive change in the classroom that results in improved student learning. The goal is to bring about change- change in the way teachers teach, change in the way students learn, and change in the way student learning is demonstrated and assessed. The Technology Rich Classroom will make classrooms true learning communities where students and teachers work collaboratively using technology as a means for learning together to achieve common goals. This change will allow the learners to move away from the more traditional paper and pencil assessment to more authentic assessments. Students will demonstrate what they’ve learned through project-based tasks and communicate their knowledge in a variety of ways using technology as a means to communication. Technology will also allow students to track their own learning, chart their progress and share their success with others. Through both summative and formative assessments, as well as rubrics developed as part of the grant, we will be able to capture the full range of academic and personal growth experienced by the students and teachers involved in the TRC project. A technology-rich classroom is equipped with all of the resources needed for teachers to integrate technology across the curriculum in their classrooms. In return, this allows students to become actively engage in the learning process. The TRC classrooms have the following tools:
- 2:1 ratio of laptop computers for students
- Laptop cart
- Teacher laptop
- Teacher handheld
- Interactive whiteboards
- LCD projector
- Wireless access
- Digital Video Cameras
- Digital Still Cameras
- A Scanner
