Three schools districts in the Los Angeles area will receive a combined total of more than $1 million from the federal government to fund investments in new classroom technology.
Whittier Union High and East Whitter City school districts in Whittier, California, and Norwalk-La Mirada Unified School District in Norwalk are receiving funds from the Enhancing Education Through Technology program to purchase new equipment, such as interactive whiteboards and handheld tablets, the Whittier Daily News reports.
Several educators throughout the school district have emphasized the new technology allows them to engage their students better and help them achieve a higher learning rate. Technological equipment, such as interactive whiteboards, can be used in conjunction with a computer and a classroom projector to encourage student participation during a lecture.
"Sometimes, students don't raise their hands because they don't know if an answer is right," said Ernesto Centeno, a technology specialist at the Norwalk-La Mirada. "But this allows them to participate without any adverse consequences and lets teachers view data immediately and support those students who need it."
According to the Whittier Daily News, school districts throughout California have received grants ranging from $10,000 to $3 million from the federal grant program.
