eInstruction Launches Professional Development Grant Program
Education technology and services provider eInstruction has launched a grant program to help teachers use technology. The company's Ed Tech Grant Program offers grants to interested districts to organize professional development forums that allow those experienced in teaching with commonly used ed tech products to offer their knowledge and insight to their peers in a conference format.
"We understand that placing technology in a classroom isn't enough to improve learning outcomes," said Eileen Shihadeh-Shald, a vice president with eInstruction. "Rather, to realize true student progress, several interdependencies must come together, including professional development that helps educators implement research-based instructional strategies."
The program will offer grants of $3,500 each to 25 districts throughout the United States to host regional professional development conferences to reach as many educators as need assistance in the following:
- Awareness of commonly used education technology products, their functions, features, and intended uses, as well as ideas for creativity in applications;
- Collection and use of student data to generate useful reports for better understanding of student needs;
- Use of data to design effective individualized instruction and to create assessments aligned to state and Common Core standards;
- Creation of interactive lessons that encourage active participation and collaboration among students;
- Pedagogical best practices in teaching with each product for optimal results, both in the classroom and, where applicable, in students' independent study; and
- An overall understanding of the ways in which technology impacts the quality, pace, and long-term effectiveness of education.
"This conference revolutionized how I am going to use this equipment in the classroom," said Christina Johnson, an eighth grade math teacher in Broward County, FL and a recent conference attendee. "Now I have all these ideas in my head bouncing around, and I am ready to go back to my classroom and use them to get my kids involved in the teaching process as well."
eInstruction will be accepting applications for spring 2011 grants through Dec. 31. Application forms can be downloaded here. In addition, several regional ed tech conferences are already planned and will be accepting registration in the coming weeks. To find location and registration information for a conference in your region, visit the registration page.
About the Author
Scott Aronowitz is a freelance writer based in Las Vegas. He has covered the technology, advertising, and entertainment sectors for seven years. He can be reached here.