2006-2009 Learning Technology Grant Program
Abstract
Abstracts are posted as submitted by the LTG award winners
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Address: IN-Tech Academy, 2975 Tibbett Avenue
City: Bronx / State: NY / Zip: 10463
Contact Person: Arlene Mackin-Hyland / Telephone w area code: 718-432-4300
E-mail Address: / Fax w area code: 718-432-410
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Pre-K-4
Grades 5-8
Grades 9-12
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Arts / Mathematics
Career Development & Occupational Studies / Physical Education
English Language Arts / Science
Family & Consumer Sciences / Social Studies
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Learning Technology Grant 2006-09 Abstract:
The Tech for Success Program is a multi-disciplinary approach to improving the mathematics capabilities of ninth and tenth grade students in three partnering schools, plus students in grades six through eight grades at IN-Tech Academy by training teachers to incorporate technology into their classrooms. Teachers will receive professional development to incorporate technology into the following facets of their pedagogy.
1. Preparation - by training them to use approved web sites as references, such as
Marco Polo, and New York Learns
2. Presentation –by training them to use classroom tools such as Smartboards, and RM Mathematics Software, and Maple II Professional software.
3. Integration – by training them to use interactive tools which will be put into students’ hands, such as TI 84 Graphing Calculators.
This combination of technology training will provide students with an enhanced learning environment, one which allows for a clearer understanding New York State Standards for Mathematics.
The Tech for Success Program involves three Bronx schools, Dewitt Clinton High School, a SINI high school, Preston High School, a Catholic high school for girls, and the Information and Network Technology, IN-Tech, Academy, aka MS/HS 368, a federal magnet school for technology which serves grades six through twelve. The program will focus on ninth and tenth grade students, plus IN-Tech’s middle school students, and will involve several mathematics teachers from each school. All three schools have populations of students who struggle with mathematics, and none of them have the adequate level of technology in their mathematics classrooms. In particular, the number of students who have achieved mastery in the use of graphing calculators is very low. Since students are allowed to use calculators on their mathematics Regents exams as well as their PSATs and SATs, enabling them to fully utilize the functions of these handhelds is a goal shared by each of these schools.
The program is being broken up into three phases, one phase per year, and will target mathematics teachers. During Phase 1, mathematics teachers from each school participated in on-going professional development on the use of Smartboards, and RM Mathematics software. They also received training on Web-based curriculum reference sites including New York Learns and Marco Polo. During Phase 2, mathematics teachers will participate in on-going professional development on the use of Smartboards, Geometer Sketchpad, TI Navigator system, TI-84 graphing calculators, Maple II professional software, and RM Mathematics software. The New York Learns training will also be incorporated in the Phase 2 training.
The model for the training will be similar for each phase; however the content will be altered for each year’s targeted group and differentiated to meet the specific needs of the participating schools. The materials purchased through this grant will also be specific to each schools need for each year.
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