August 2008 — News
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Saugus USD To Launch Student Writing Collaboration Project
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Saugus Union School District in Santa Clarita, CA is launching a new writing program for its fourth-grade students that couples writing and science using ultra-mobile devices and collaborative learning software, among other technologies. According to information supplied to us by the district, the initiative is being funded through a $1.4 million EETT competitive grant the district recently won.
The initiative, dubbed "Student Writing Achievement Through Technology Enhanced Collaboration" (SWATTEC), focuses on writing achievement within the science curriculum. EETT funding will provide access to Asus wireless ultra-mobile devices (UMDs) for all 1,700 fourth-grade students in the district, Web-based writing tools, and an online collaborative learning environment. It will also provide teachers with laptops, projectors, printers, interactive pads, mobile carts, and wireless hardware. Teachers are also receiving professional development for the initiative.
Although there is a 1:1 component built into the SWATTEC initiative, Jim Klein, director of Information Services & Technology for Saugus USD, told us that the emphasis is not just on throwing technology at the students, but on using these tools as a means to an end.
"While the project might look like a vanilla 1:1 project, 1:1 is not our primary goal," Klein said. "The center of the project is writing and collaboration using social media technologies; the devices are just tools that will get us there. Ultimately we want the technology part of it to be completely transparent--to be at once invisible and indispensable."
According to information released by the district, the program will be supported by staff development and teacher professional development, along with ongoing evaluations. "Technology integration is key to the success of this project, and successful technology integration requires solid training and implementation support. Through partnerships with the California Technology Assistance Project (CTAP), Vantage Learning Inc., and Digital Edge Learning, extensive professional development will be provided for 53 fourth grade teachers, 15 coach/mentors, and school and project administrators."
