Sixth in a series of posts on (Sonoma Country Life Sponsor) Petaluma Educational Foundation Major Impact Grants features the phenomenal impact of dynamic multi-media instruction in the elementary classroom at the city's west side Grant School. Including on-line visits to archeological sites around the world, this far-reaching program covers all aspects of the school curriculum.
This $10,154 major impact grant awarded to Grant Elementary School in February, 2010 was generously co-funded in part by community members/PEF and school supporters Jani and Craig Walker, Phoebe and Geoff Ellis and Dave Siembieda.
"Over the 08/09 school year we piloted innovative projector/sound systems in 3 intermediate grade classrooms," says Grant School teacher and program coordinator, Catina Haugen. These sophisticated systems included a projector, large 7x7 screen, a sound system (speakers, teacher mic, student mic, base system), wireless keyboard and wireless mouse and a DVD/VCR.
"This system replaces the TV in a classroom and allows any material on the computer to be projected for instruction or student interaction," says Haugen, who along with her colleagues, collected data about usage, application and student feedback during the pilot's highly successful year.
Now, thanks to the PEF grant money, three more systems are being installed in the school's remaining three intermediate classrooms, creating a 'buddy' opportunity for teacher training: the pilot teacher paired with the new system's teacher in the same grade.
"Now we can all show math videos from our curriculum, tour ancient archaeological sites (on the internet) for social studies, or brainstorm as a class and collect our ideas on a Word document projected for all to see," said Haugen.
Students are able to present their work (web-based or otherwise) on the big screen, and teachers can pre-teach skills in the classroom that students will practice in the computer lab.
"This system allows greater access to all curriculum and engages students to a greater degree than traditional modes," said Haugen. "The California standards didn't morph into something new upon using the LCD projector, but the manner in which we delivered the material, the way students responded and interacted and the depth to which students understood was altered in ways in which we had not anticipated."
Responding to critical and urgent need, PEF has introduced Major Impact Grants for up to $15,000 following months of strategic planning in the midst of unprecedented state-wide educational cuts. In addition to PEF's classroom enrichment grants of up to $2,000 for curriculum projects that supplement and enrich the student experience, this second tier of major impact grants places significant emphasis on innovative programs of extraordinary scope, reach or longevity.
Thirteen Major Impact Grants (now totaling $131,781) are now able to immediately implement programs to be completed by May of 2011. New funding partner, Community Health Foundation of Greater Petaluma, committed $5,000 to a HOSA leadership program at Casa Grande High School to prepare students for careers in the health care industry
Additional, approved grant applications are currently awaiting funding. Donations are still welcome at any amount.
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