JASON to Provide New Curriculum, Professional Development to DoD Teachers and Students

The JASON Project, a nonprofit subsidiary of the National Geographic Society, is now providing curriculum and on-site and online professional development for Department of Defense (DoD) schools worldwide under the terms of a contract signed last month. JASON’s hands-on investigations, which use probes and graphing calculators, are closely aligned to DoD Education Activity’s (DoDEA) science content standards and enhance student learning through an interactive website with digital labs. Under the new contract, JASON is providing graduate-level, online science, and mathematics courses to 250 fourth- through 12 th-grade teachers, and delivering four-day “train-the-trainer” workshops to 70 DoDEA educators around the world. Those educators will then train other DoDEA teachers in the JASON curriculum. Additionally, JASON is providing DoDEA with pilot editions of its new standards-based classroom curriculum, Monster Storms , as well as offering licenses for DoDEA teachers to access previous curricula, Mysteries of Earth and Mars and Disappearing Wetlands…

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Valence Batteries Power Hybrid School Buses

Students may soon be traveling to school in a fuel-efficient bus using Valence Technology Inc. batteries. Enova Systems, a supplier of efficient, environmentally friendly hybrid-electric powered systems, has ordered U-Charge XP Power Systems based on Saphion phosphate technology from Valence. Enova Systems, in collaboration with IC Corp., the nation’s largest school bus manufacturer, recently won a bid with Advanced Energy to provide up to 21 hybrid school buses to 11 states. Enova is providing the hybrid drive systems for the nationwide hybrid school bus initiative and is evaluating Valence batteries to power the new line of buses. The project provides operational benefits to school districts, while also providing the reduced emissions desired by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and a valuable return on investment to school boards. The hybrid school bus is expected to attain a 100 percent increase in fuel efficiency, which becomes even more essential with rising fuel costs…

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NetPrep Partners with Stanford to Give Detroit Students Free Online Tutoring, Computers

NetPrep, the web-based after-school tutoring program for students in grades 2-8 who qualify for Supplemental Educational Services (SES), has formed a unique partnership with Stanford University’s Education Program for Gifted Youth (EPGY) to provide free online tutoring in math and English/language arts. The free program is approved by the Michigan Department of Education for all students in grades 2-8, whether remedial or gifted, and is available through local community groups and churches within walking distance of most Detroit-area schools required to provide SES. Upon completing the seven-week NetPrep tutoring course (called a "NetPrep Academy") at a designated location, students may take their computer home at no charge and continue their online tutoring. For more information call (313) 389-8087 or click here...

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