STATE GRANT TO FUND PITT STUDY OF TECHNOLOGY IN SCHOOLS

PITTSBURGH, March 23 -- The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has awarded a $253,000 grant to the Department of Library and Information Science in the School of Information Sciences at the University of Pittsburgh to profile innovative uses of technology in educational settings across Pennsylvania.

Funded through the Link-to-Learn Educational Technology Impact Analysis, the project seeks to develop in-depth case studies of at least 12 schools or districts that have used technology to solve a significant educational problem. This effort will result in a multimedia presentation for release over the World Wide Web that will thoroughly document the development of technological infrastructures, technology use to support the curriculum, and other ways technology is employed to strengthen learning in the classroom.

Additionally, the case studies will describe the relevant educational, demographic, social, economic and political environments and how these affect technological adoption and innovation. The case studies also will provide a historical account of how each developed, and identify the key factors at each stage of technological development for schools to replicate technology innovations.

The project will be directed by Elizabeth Yakel, assistant professor in the School of Information Sciences, who is collaborating with Indiana University of Pennsylvania professor Richard Lamberski and Penn State University professors Dennis Roberts and Hoi Suen to form an interdisciplinary team.

Said Yakel, "These case studies present a unique opportunity to do an in-depth analysis of how technology can be employed to solve a variety of educational problems in the K-12 environment by facilitating student learning and aiding teachers in curriculum development."

More information about the project can be found through the World Wide Web at: http://www2.sis.pitt.edu/~etia2.

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