According to Virginia Living, the state's Department of Education recently announced widespread grants intended to improve student learning in science, technology, engineering and math. In all, the agency is expected to deliver 17 individual grants, which will total $2.7 million.
Organizations, STEM programs, academic partnerships and schools will be the beneficiaries of the grants, reported the news provider. Furthermore, a large part of the initiative will be devoted to teacher training.
Teachers in the program may be instructed on how to use the latest educational technology. Accordingly, after they complete their training, educators may consider integrating advanced devices, such as a high-tech computer, an iPad or a
DLP projector, into their daily lessons. When these devices are implemented into the classroom, several case studies have shown that student learning is greatly enhanced.
According to the state's educational authority, better STEM learning begins with technology-proficient teachers.
"Teacher content knowledge is a critical component of effective instruction," VDOE superintendent of Public Instruction Patricia Wright said in a news release. "Knowledgeable and confident teachers are essential to prepare students for post-secondary studies and STEM-related careers."
