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Dec. 8, 2000
INTEL AWARDS UNM COLLEGE OF EDUCATION $109,000 "TEACH TO THE FUTURE"
PROGRAM GRANT
The University of New Mexico College of Education (UNM-COE) has received a
$109,000 grant to launch the "Intel Teach to the Future" program,
which is designed to help the state's teachers more effectively use technology
in their classrooms.
Intel representatives presented the check to UNM in a ceremony today, Friday,
Dec. 8, that also included participation by members of the New Mexico Congressional
delegation, New Mexico legislators, UNM Vice President for Advancement Judy
Jones and Albuquerque city officials. It makes New Mexico the sixth state to
join the national rollout of this major effort to support the professional development
of teachers.
"'Teach to the Future' will have significant statewide impact. In addition
to the $109,000 grant to the UNM-COE, Intel will be investing nearly $1.5 million
in New Mexico over the next two years, in computer equipment, trainer stipends,
curriculum development, and other areas," said Dr. Jeff A. Hale, UNM COE
director of development. The Microsoft Corp. is also supporting the program.
At UNM, the grant will be used to establish Intel's New Mexico Regional Training
Agency (RTA) within the COE's new Technology and Education Center (TEC) as the
first step in a targeted program to help teachers more effectively use technology
in their classrooms. A total of approximately 4,800 New Mexico teachers will
receive the intensive course over the next two years, making the project one
of the largest of its type ever undertaken in the state.
"The College of Education is honored to be named the New Mexico RTA for
the 'Intel Teach To The Future program,'" said UNM COE Dean Viola E. Florez.
"By focusing the project exclusively on professional development for teachers,
Intel is targeting one of the areas of greatest need in our state, as well as
the nation. While our schools have made great progress in acquiring technology,
including access to the World Wide Web, sparse resources, on a comparative basis,
have been dedicated to 'wiring' our teachers - preparing them to better utilize
the new technologies to maximize the effectiveness of the existing curriculum
and improve overall student performance. Thus, by concentrating on this critical
area of need, Intel is demonstrating visionary private sector philanthropy,"
she said.
Florez said the project "further exemplifies UNM's commitment to educational
outreach across New Mexico. Headquartered in the College of Education's new,
state-of-the-art Technology and Education Center, the Intel RTA will link the
College to educators statewide, via a series of intensive workshops, as well
as a resource-rich project website. The Intel program will therefore provide
an opportunity for the College to expand its professional development outreach
for teachers, an area of high priority for us."
"There is already a great deal of interest in the project and we are receiving
numerous inquiries about possible participation," said Dr. Bill J. Bramble,
principal investigator and TEC director. "The focus of the statewide training
effort is upon the effective integration of technology into the school curriculum
and not simply on computing skills. Hence the impact on student learning and
educational quality should be substantial.
Bramble said interested school districts and teachers should contact him or
Smith Frederick, project coordinator, at 277-0462 for more information.
Florez noted that "research conducted by the College's director of development,
Dr. Jeff A. Hale, indicates that this $109,000 grant is the largest single cash
grant in the history of the UNM-Intel relationship. We are obviously very happy
to see this important relationship expanding."
"Intel® Teach to the Future" will train 400,000 teachers worldwide through 2002. Total value is approximately $500 million. The program, Intel says, "builds on a proven, successful model that trains teachers how, when and where to incorporate technology tools and resources into their current lesson plans, and align them with district, state and national standards."
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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
Comments to: paaffair@unm.edu