Escambia County School District and eMINTS National Center Partner to Provide Technologies that will Prepare Students for Future-Ready College and Career Skills.
In the spring of 2016, the Escambia County School District partnered with the eMINTS National Center to embark on a journey that would impact school staff and students.
The purpose was to conduct a study that would consider the effectiveness of instruction when impacted by a shift in strategies and technologies used in the classroom.
During the past two school years, teachers at Pollard McCall Junior High and W.S. Neal Middle participated in a rigorous professional learning experience that included approximately 160 hours of training led by local district trainers using materials and learning strategies provided by eMINTS. District trainers Sarah Ann Fountain and Connie Reeves attended monthly online meetings and facilitated the 160 hours of teacher training.
In September, Pollard McCall Junior High and W.S. Neal Middle staff that participated in the eMINTS project received their certifications.
They are currently including the new technologies and strategies acquired over the past two years into their daily classroom activities.
Students in the seventh grade were all provided a
Chromebook to use to assist with this learning. To increase achievement and to enhance skills for college-ready and student career goals, the teachers created hands-on, student-centered lessons that also included strong elements of student collaboration and teamwork.
This grant-funded project is part of $15 million-dollar Investing in Innovation (i3) grant provided by the U.S. Department of Education and includes schools in Alabama, Arkansas, Utah, and Missouri.
At the Escambia County School District, seven teachers and two district trainers participated in the study. Data from three school years will be collected and compared with data from non-participating “control” schools nearby.
Results of this study will be published in 2020 and made available to interested persons.
Founded in 1999, the eMINTS National Center at the MU College of Education in Columbia, Missouri offers evidence-based professional development to teachers across the United States and in Australia. It plays an important role as part of the MU College of Education’s mission to support educators and administrators in PreK-12 settings.
For additional information about the i3 project or eMINTS, email [email protected] or call (573) 884-7202.
