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| Contact: | Jeff Hale, UNM, (505) 277-2915 or Laurie Mellas-Ramirez, UNM, (505) 277-5915 |
August 13, 2001
UNM PARTNERS WITH BERNALILLO AND HP TO IMPROVE K-12 EDUCATION
The University of New Mexico College of Education (UNM COE) and Bernalillo
Public Schools today announced their partnership to improve K-12 education using
a two-year, $141,000 grant from Hewlett-Packard Company. Approximately 75 percent
of the funds are earmarked for computer equipment. The remainder will support
professional development of Bernalillo teachers and UNM COE student teachers
and will fund research to understand the impact of leading-edge education technology
on teaching and learning.
"We are particularly pleased because the UNM COE and Bernalillo partnership
is one of only 10 recipients nationally of HP's School of Education/K-12 Technology
Collaboration Grant," said Jeff Hale, Ph.D., UNM COE director of development.
Hale coordinated and wrote the proposal to receive the grant.
The grant provides an HP Wireless Mobile Computing Classroom, which combines hardware, software and services to create a wireless one-to-one computing environment that provides real-time access and results for students, teachers, and parents.
Thirty wireless, Internet-connected HP Omnibook notebook PCs will be available
for students to use simultaneously. A WIN MobiLAN ONE motorized cart allows
the computers to be moved between classrooms, securely houses and charges the
batteries in the computers when not in use, and is the base for an HP Officejet
multifunction, all-in-one product, combining printer/copier/scanner/fax capabilities.
An HP digital camera is also included.
In addition to the hardware, the HP Wireless Mobile Classroom includes the
NetSchools Orion online curriculum alignment and integration system, as well
as the "Discourse Teaching Suite" of software from Mindsurf Networks,
which integrates the use of the notebook PCs in the classroom by connecting
the teacher with every student on every lesson.
A pilot group of 10 Bernalillo High School teachers will receive training in
the use of these innovative technologies. They will then prepare and implement
curriculum plans integrating the new technologies directly into student learning.
Barbara Vigil-Lowder, education technology coordinator with Bernalillo Public
Schools, will assist with project coordination, in cooperation with the ten
high school teachers.
The teacher preparation is part of an overall strategy to improve academic
learning across the Bernalillo High School curriculum. The pilot group will
apply the new lesson plans in classrooms serving approximately 240 students.
An additional project goal includes researching the appropriate and most effective
uses of wireless computing solutions in K-12 classrooms.
Lyn Oshima, Ph.D., assistant professor in the UNM COE division of language,
literacy, and sociocultural studies, will coordinate the training. Assisting
Oshima with project research will be several UNM COE graduate students.
The grant period is July 2001 through June 2003.
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The University
of New Mexico
Public Affairs Department
Hodgin Hall, 2nd floor
Albuquerque, NM 87131-0011
Telephone: (505) 277-5813
Fax: (505) 277-1981