Next fall, Alton Junior High will be one of 60 schools throughout rural Missouri to benefit from a $12 million federal grant secured by the University of Missouri for an educational technology study and training program, WideAreaNews.com reports.
The junior high will receive laptop computers for students along with new interactive whiteboards and scanners as part of a study by the Enhancing Missouri's Instructional Networked Teaching Strategies National Center at the University of Missouri, or eMints, to assess the effects a professional development program has on rural students.
As part of the program, math, science, language arts and social studies teachers will receive three years of intensive professional development training.
Holly Reese, Alton Schools coordinator of special programs, said students will be able to use the technology to gain valuable technology skills. The laptops can be used in conjunction with an HD-TV, LED monitor or HDMI projector to allow students to display presentations to other classmates.
"We're excited," Reese told WideAreaNews. "Technology is a huge part of [the students'] lives now."
The grant comes as part of the U.S. Department of Education's Investing in Innovation Fund, which will provide more than $643 million to fund technology projects throughout the country.
