Schools Score Technology Grant

By Brett Bennett

Posted: November 28, 2009 at 4:29 a.m.

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SPRINGDALE — District junior high schools will receive technology improvements designed to better engage students in learning.

Springdale was awarded a $200,000 Enhancing Education Through Technology grant through the Arkansas Department of Education. Rick Schaeffer, district public information officer, said technology coordinator Allison Byford informed him of the award Tuesday afternoon.

The money will pay for a ceiling-mounted projector, document camera, interactive whiteboard and laptop computer in 10 classrooms each at George, Central and Southwest junior high schools.

The grant also provides money for professional development so teachers can learn how to use the technology, he said.

Southwest Junior High School Principal Brice Wagner said the interactive whiteboard helps keep students’ attention in the classroom.

“It just makes everything more visual,” he said.

Schaeffer said the interactive whiteboard allows students to change content on the screen.

“What you’ll find, is even some of your most bashful students, they’ll get up there and move things around,” Schaeffer said.

Enhancing Education Through Technology is a federal program through the Department of Education, according to the department’s Web site. The grants are provided to state departments of education, which issue the awards to school districts.

“The primary goal of this program is to improve student achievement through the use of technology in elementary and secondary schools,” according to the site. “Additional goals include helping all students become technologically literate by the end of the eighth grade.”

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