Teach America! Offers Grants for Computer Training
President Clinton has officially unveiled Gateway's Teach America! program, which aims to bring $7.6 million in technology training grants to 75,000 teachers over the next five years. The program will impact over 15 million students nationwide by providing teachers with the skills and understanding necessary to enhance learning through technology. Its goal is to provide training that ensures technology is relevant and useful in education, and that the growing use of technology in K-12 schools is met with commensurate teacher ability.
Teach America! offers online computer training to grant recipients, giving them access to hundreds of Web-based classes and refresher courses that they can take at their convenience. Teachers can learn how to effectively use the Web to find supplemental materials, share information with parents and students, and use popular applications such as PowerPoint, Word, Excel, and the Encarta Encyclopedia.
The Teach America! program is the latest in a number of Gateway's efforts to bring technology to economically challenged schools. Initiatives such as PowerUp have brought over 50,000 computers and Internet access to children through community organizations. In addition, four new PowerUp sites will allow youths to learn to use computers and the Internet under the supervision of trained volunteers.
To view instructions on applying for a Teach America! grant, educators and administrators can visit the Gateway Foundation's Web site. Only schools with tax-exempt status are eligible for the grants. Gateway Inc., Sioux City, SD, www.gateway.com/teachamerica/.
This article originally appeared in the 06/01/2000 issue of THE Journal.