Calypso School First Foundation To Supply Classroom Technology Grants
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Ed tech developer Calypso Systems has formed a new foundation designed to fund classroom technologies for schools.
The foundation, called the Calypso School First Foundation, this week launched the "Be Heard | School Grant," the first in a series of school grants. The Be Heard | School Grant will award three K-12 institutions with schoolwide sound field reinforcement systems for up to 35 classrooms per school for the 2009-2010 school year. The systems use wireless teacher microphones and amplifiers to project a teacher's voice throughout the classroom. The technology is designed to enhance learning for students, particularly students with learning disabilities.
Each prize includes up to 35 classroom kits. Each kit, valued at $37,150, includes a teacher mic, a base station, a 32-watt classroom amplifier, and two 6.5-inch, ceiling-mounted speakers.
“21st century skills cannot be achieved without profound change in classroom, curriculum, and assessment tools,” said David H. Parish, president of Calypso Systems, in a statement released this week. “Technology needs to become an integrated part of teaching and learning. The goal of the Foundation is to foster and encourage transformation of classroom education by providing resources necessary to make the future a reality.”
He continued: “Classroom sound-field reinforcement is becoming increasingly important to K-12 education with growing evidence that lightweight, wireless teacher microphones help special needs children participate and be successful in the classroom, while leading to improved performance among all children,” said Parish, “We have witnessed the benefits when wireless teacher microphones are utilized in the classroom, and we want educators across the country to be able to realize that type of success in their own classrooms.”
The program is open to public and private schools. The program is not needs-based; raher, winners agree to participate in pre- and post-installation surveys and to be featured in a case study.
Applications wil be accepted now through June 5. Winners will be announced at the 2009 NECC Conference. Installations will begin in July or August. Further information can be found here.