The Sitka school district in Sitka, Alaska has received federal funding in support of its new technology program aimed to boost students’ skills by the end of eighth grade, KCAW-FM reports.
The program is funded by a $100,000 federal Enhancing Education Through Technology grant, which trains teachers to help middle school students develop their technological literacy.
Five middle school teachers are being trained to integrate technology into their classrooms, which Sitka’a assistant superindent Mary Wegner said would encourage students to be more engaged in the learning process.
In addition, the school district will contribute between $25,000 and $30,000 to purchase new equipment for the program. Classrooms will receive such technology as a laptop computer, a document camera and a classroom projector.
“I’m really excited that this is more than just equipment and a fad,” school board president Lon Garrison said. “It’s raising the bar and the level and letting everybody know that this is a different way of doing business.”
The Enhancing Education Through Technology State program is aimed at helping students become technologically literate by the time they enter high school. This year, it has awarded over $100 million in grants.
