EETT Program Enhances Student and Teacher Learning

Providing middle school students with access to laptops and teachers with professional development. Increasing computer-to-student ratios to 1-to-2. Improving student achievement levels in substantial, quantifiable ways. These are but a few outcomes of projects funded by the Enhancing Education Through Technology (EETT) program. Representatives from 12 school districts in California, Arizona and Utah share success stories during the EETT Showcase Sessions at the 2006 National Educational Computing Conference.

“EETT has been a complete revolution in our school district,” says Kathy Bari, sixth grade teacher for the Capistrano Unified School District in Calif.

The district received an EETT grant, allowing teachers to design and implement history/social science and English/language arts projects for middle school students, incorporating technology, information literacy and problem solving skills.

Created in 2002, EETT provides states and districts with the financial resources to implement innovative technology programs that enhance student and teacher learning; however, the House Appropriations Committee recently approved a bill that, if passed, would eliminate EETT funding.

The International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE(R)) and the California Technology Assistance Project (CTAP) invited proposals for presentations about EETT-funded projects at NECC 2006. “This year at NECC, we wanted to showcase the innovative educational technology projects schools in the West have been able to implement because of funding from the EETT program,” says Paul Butler-Nalin, education technology specialist with CTAP.

During the Showcases, district representatives focused on unique features of their EETT-funded projects and shared effective applications of educational technology in the classroom.

“With pending cuts to the EETT program in both the Administration’s budget and the House education funding bill, it’s important that educators share success stories to ensure that these vital programs that prepare our students for the 21st century workforce continue to receive the federal funding they deserve,” says ISTE CEO Don Knezek.

ISTE’s 27th annual NECC is being held in San Diego, Calif., July 5 through 7, at the San Diego Convention Center. NECC provides an annual forum for K-20 education professionals to learn, exchange ideas and survey the field of educational technology. Drawing more than 16,000 attendees annually, the conference offers hands-on workshops, lectures, discussions with key industry leaders and the largest exhibit of educational technology in the world. For more information, visit www.iste.org/necc.