Regional School Unit 12 in Whitefield, Maine, was recently selected as one of 10 schools in the state to receive a sizable grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture in an effort to improve teleconferencing capabilities in the classroom, the Kennebec Journal reports.
According to the Kennebec Journal, the school district, which serves eight cities throughout the region, will use a $359,997 grant to invest in new videoconferencing equipment in schools currently lacking the technology.
The technology will primarily be used to enable teachers who work on opposite sides of the district to meet with one another. However, it will also serve as a tool that lets students take virtual fields trips to places they wouldn't otherwise be able to visit.
Educators have found they can use videoconferencing technology in conjunction with an HD-TV, LED monitor or
DLP projector to give students the opportunity to attend museums, conferences or other events and places without having to pay for travel.
The USDA is providing grants to rural schools across the country in an effort provide them with technology that enhances the classroom experience. According to the Kennebec Journal, the department is funding 106 projects in 38 states.
