University Announces K-12 Technology Partnership Grant
Using technology to improve K-12 education
in Northwest Minnesota is the goal of a new University of
Minnesota project, announced February 19, 1997, by President
Nils Hasselmo during his visit to Crookston on Wednesday.
The University’s College of Education and Human Development in Minneapolis and the Crookston campus will partner to design and deliver education programs for K-12 teachers. Emphasis will be on using computer technology and the internet to improve teaching and learning of core subjects including social studies, reading, and math.
Six schools have agreed to serve as pilot sites for the project and other schools are welcome to join. Participating schools are Bagley, Crookston Public, Crookston Cathedral, Fertile-Beltrami, Fisher and Mahnomen. Representatives from the participating schools met with President Hasselmo at UMC on February 19, to discuss the project. They also discussed other partnership projects including UMC’s College in the High School program being conducted in twelve K-12 schools in the region.
Fertile-Beltrami School Superintendent Kristin Anderson reported on progress for her school to become a lap-top high, and she emphasized the importance of teacher education. "We have depended on UMC to help us create a lap-top learning environment. What we need now is teacher education to help our faculty make the best possible use of the new technology. Who better can we do that than the University’s College of Education."
"At Crookston Cathedral, we are most excited about the project with the University," said education director, Fr. Timothy Bushy. "We are connected to the world wide web and are striving to better implement technology in all areas of our curriculum."
"The project is one of several demonstration projects being launched through the University’s Distance Education Office, part of University College," said President Hasselmo. "UMC has taken the leadership for computer technology at the University, and K-12 partnerships have been one of my priorities, so I’m particularly proud of this project. It should be a model for the country."
For more information contact Barbara Weiler, University Relations, at 218-281-8435.
02/19/97