ANTICIPATED RESULTS AND IMPACT
Over the next three years, AT&T ENRICH will directly impact
50 schools and indirectly impact 100% of all public and Catholic schools with ninth grade
biology classes. One hundred biology teachers will actively participate in curriculum
development, technology integration, incorporating academic standards, classroom
application, peer mentoring on-line and through shared lab experiences, and working as
systemic change agents within their school. Approximately 17,000 students who attend
classes taught by these teachers will participate in hands-on biology laboratories using
the integrated science and technology curriculum. Benchmarks will be determined and
milestones developed during teacher institutes to insure adequate measures and evaluation
as well as the achievement of professional development outcomes.
Outcomes
Participation in this project will assist the project's partners in incorporating an
engaged learning model, and in meeting the State's academic standards through systemic
change and the use of current technological equipment.
Changes in Leadership
Participating teachers will become agents of change within their schools, will lead
their peers to successfully adopt and integrate the newest technologies into school
curricula, accelerate the ways teachers are provided professional development, and will
transition their role from instructor to learning facilitator.
Teaching Methodology
Participating teachers will be better equipped to incorporate the use
of current technology into their curricula, access primary data sources,
and critical thinking and problem-solving activities into classroom
activities, develop electronic portfolios for their students; and access
on-line assessment tools. The biology model can also be translated into
use in other disciplines.
Through systemic change and the use of current technology: student learning will be
stimulated; the high dropout rate will be decreased; and students can view themselves as
scientists involved in real-life activities.
Products and Deliverables:
- Production of new ninth grade biology curriculum ~uides) using the
engaged learning model
- Classroom assessment which may include projects developed by
students that demonstrate the effective use of engaged learning in a
ninth grade biology laboratory.
- Schools will demonstrate the best practice model within their
respective communities as an outcome of the project's activities.
These activities will include but not be limited to a project
web-site, community forums, local and/or parent conferences.
- Student portfolios
Dissemination:
- The project will be disseminated to all other Chicago Public and
Catholic schools via the internet and through public events by the
summer of 2000. Information will also be made available to interested
communities.
- In addition to the web page, events will be conducted and
information will be made available through manuals and professionally
prepared packets. Press conferences will be held for the purpose of
providing periodic updates to the public during the middle and at the
end of each school year.
Budget:
The budget does not provide for technology hardware.
It does provide stipends for:
- teacher participants (for institute participation, curriculum
development, research and meetings),
- instructors/trainers and facilitators
Funds have been designated to provide for research, outside curriculum development and
the evaluation process.
Some "in-kind" support/services and consultation will be
provided by the Chicago Public Schools; Office of Catholic Education,
Archdiocese of Chicago; Illinois State Board of Education, and AT&T.
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