Training Teachers To Use Mobile Technology in Miami-Dade Classrooms
educationfund.org
Miami Dade Teach-A-Thon.
Miami-Dade public schools’ technology education is getting a $75,000 boost from a Verizon Foundation.
The Education Fund will dole out the grant to help Miami Dade teachers and students in STEM programs – science, technology, engineering and math – during the upcoming school year.
The money will help teachers to implement a new initiative called “bring your own device.” It focuses on the use of mobile computing devices for learning.
Teachers will start training on how to use mobile technology in the classroom next month.
The district is working toward having students and staff connect their personal devices, like smartphones and iPods, to the district’s wireless network during class.
The funding will also support STEM education through:
- Ideas with IMPACT catalog, a 40-page publication containing descriptions of “best practices.” Distributed annually to 20,000 Miami-Dade teachers, this year’s IMPACT catalog will feature STEM learning.
- Curriculum packets containing lesson plans, worksheets, resource lists and step-by-step instructions for teachers on STEM activities.
- STEM workshops on various topics, such as the use of mobile technology in the classroom, for teachers at The Education Fund’s annual Idea Expo.
- IMPACT Adapter Grants. Up to 100 grants will be available to teachers to pay for supplies and other costs related to innovative STEM experiments, programs and classroom activities.
The $75,000 grant follows $48,000 in funding last school year from Verizon to Miami-Dade County Public schools for STEM programs.
A wind-powered “Dolphin Radio” station is one of the results. It was built by students at David Lawrence Jr. K – 8 Center.
The Verizon funding offers “support in an educational arena that will definitely benefit students if teachers can be encouraged and trained in how to manage it creatively,” said Linda Lecht, President of The Education Fund. “In fact, teaming up with corporate sponsors to encourage this type of teaching excellence and student achievement is our mission at The Education Fund.”
