July 2004 — SETDA
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West Virginia: Integrating Technology to Improve Student Learning
The West Virginia SUCCESS (Student Utilization of Computers in Curriculum for the Enhancement of Scholastic Skills) initiative provides the technology tools to prepare students in grades 7-12 to succeed in college, other postsecondary education or gainful employment. The World School and Telecommunications/Technology programs have provided connections to the Internet for every school in the state via a state-subsidized electronic network that also supports the West Virginia Education Information System (WVEIS).The rich technology infrastructure created by these statewide initiatives has made possible the implementation of numerous other educational technology programs. It also has allowed the state to leverage its educational technology investments with related funding from other sources. For example, when the West Virginia Legislature found that the infrastructure existed to offer high-quality education courses to students through Internet technology in 2000, it created the West Virginia Virtual School (WVVS). This allows students who would otherwise have difficulty obtaining access to appropriate courses in a classroom setting to participate in needed or desired classes, regardless of school location or size. WVVS was recently recognized on a national Virtual Town Hall Meeting, which was moderated by Acting Deputy Secretary of Education Eugene Hickok, highlighting rural education initiatives across the country.
Grants & Programs
Recognizing the strength of West Virginia's technology infrastructure, the federal government and national corporations have awarded grants and other programs to the state. IBM awarded a Reinventing Education grant to the state in order to create a repository of Internet-based lessons aligned to West Virginia's Content Standards and Objectives, as well as to develop a model for successfully implementing these lessons in the classroom. The U.S. Department of Education awarded a Technology Innovation Challenge Grant to The EdVenture Group which, in partnership with the WVDE, has provided technology training for teachers to meet the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) standards now in West Virginia policy. The WVDE partnered with the MarcoPolo Education Foundation to provide professional development to teachers throughout the state regarding the use of Internet resources in the classroom. The WVDE received a $1.2 million State Challenge Grant for Leadership Development from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. In partnership with EdVenture, the grant will enable the state's superintendents and school principals to become informed leaders who encourage the use of technology to transform student learning. The WVDE is a recipient of a federal "Preparing Tomorrow's Teachers to Use Technology" (PT3) grant. The grant partners the WVDE with local school districts, colleges and businesses to develop technology-proficient educators who are prepared to meet the needs of 21st century learners. The WVDE has helped to implement Cisco Local Academies in 34 schools and Cisco Certified Network Professional programs in eight community technical colleges. In addition, 26 schools are designated as authorized MOUS (Microsoft Office User Specialist) testing centers, and seven schools served as pilot sites for the Oracle Internet Academies.
