According to the Bakersfield Californian, Chevron recently awarded more than $58,000 in grant money to Kern County schools as part of the company's California Partnership, which gives money to schools to buy supplies and improve classroom technology.
Advanced classroom technology, such as HDMI projectors, gives teachers the ability to engage students through multidisciplinary lesson plans, providing depth and clarity.
Chevron also recognized 12 teachers as "innovation stars" for integrating technology into novel educational projects and initiatives. Recipients ranged across the educational spectrum, from elementary to high school teachers. Notable projects used a range of advanced technology, from cordless mechanical microscopes used by middle school students to observe Paramecium to an iPad 2 used to measure and track pH and meteorological factors. Another project designed by elementary school teacher Heather Randolph was designed to simulate living conditions of gold rush-era prospectors.
Since 1999, Chevron has provided grants to improve technology in more than 900 classrooms, awarding more than $614,000 in funding, according to the company. The unique grant program encourages the novel and creative use of technology in the classroom to foster learning in non-traditional ways.
