By Vanessa Fultz, Democrat Reporter
March 25, 2008 09:13 am
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vanessa.fultz@gaflnews.com
Suwannee Middle School has been awarded a $750,000 grant to enhance math instruction through the use of technology. The money will purchase laptop computers for all students in the 14 math classes at SMS. The district will hire a liaison to assist with the technology and teachers will be trained to implement the program.
The program, Engaging a New Generation in an Active and Gainful Education (ENGAGE), is a state/federal collaboration designed to increase student math achievement through technology. The program also aims at ensuring students are technologically literate by the time they finish the eighth grade.
"I almost dropped my laptop" on learning the district had been awarded the grant, said Cheryl Mae Brinson of the district office, who wrote the grant. The grant was awarded to 11 districts in Florida; 38 applied.
"This is state-of-the-art, emerging technologies that are used as instructional tools specifically designed to promote math achievement," Brinson said.
"I'm extremely excited about it," said SMS Principal Norri Steele.
Steele said the computers are much needed because classrooms are currently fitted with just two computers, one for teacher use and one for student use. The school also has a computer lab that all classes share.
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