July 2008 — Features
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High Schools : An Equation That Works
"Without ACCESS, students at my high schools would not have been able to participate in courses such as Advanced Placement Calculus, Latin, or Shakespeare," she says. "Additionally, almost 5,000 students have received remediation and supplemental resources, and more than 14,000 half-credits have been awarded. With high-quality courses that are engaging students through the utilization of 21st-century skills, Alabama is addressing its immediate need to decrease school dropout rates, increase high school graduation rates, and prepare its students to be competitive on a global scale."
The Floydada Independent School District in Texas is accomplishing these same goals through its implementation of the Technology Immersion Project, which in its own words "completely envelopes participants in technology and professional development." The initiative provides the district's high school educators with the resources they need to get the most out of using technology to teach STEM and other subject areas. Teachers participate in ongoing and sustainable professional development, which leads to project-based learning opportunities that challenge students to apply science and math concepts to real-life contexts. Floydada educators credit the project with the dramatic increases in math and science achievement in the district. Tenth-grade math scores on the state's high-stakes assessment went up 36 percentage points from the 2005-06 school year to 2006-07, and 10th-grade science scores rose 34 points.
Sustainable PD
Effective teaching and learning does not just happen-- it takes high-quality and sustainable professional development. Technology now provides teachers access to abundant professional development opportunities through online courses, professional learning communities, and education portals stocked with resources and lesson plans. This is particularly critical in rural and inner-city areas, where these opportunities are often limited due to barriers of location or funding.
In Louisiana, the state offers online courses that train teachers in practices to engage students in math. Twelve modules cover topics from "Concept of a Variable" to "Measures of Central Tendency." Each module focuses on specific algebraic content and includes elements of instructional strategies and lesson planning. Modules also include online reading and resources, interactive activities, online discussion prompts, and optional enrichment activities.
Delaware provides its teachers with online courses through e-Learning Delaware, the state's implementation of the federally funded professional development initiative e-Learning for Educators. The program gives teachers access to several clusters of courses, including the Secondary Math cluster, which focuses in part on the development of strategies to encourage and promote the formation of algebraic thought processes in students. Other STEM-oriented courses include Transforming the Classroom With Project-Based Learning and Approaches, and Tools for Developing Web-Enhanced lessons.
