Introduction to ESETT In the 2004-2005 school year, the San Diego Unified School District's Educational Technology Department began a collaboration with the Science Department to implement the Enhancing Science Education Through Technology program. The EsETT program integrates technology into middle school science classrooms while expanding student engagement and learning opportunities. Phase One began as a pilot at Roosevelt and Standley Middle Schools, included five science teachers from each school, and 1,800 students in grades 7 and 8.
Phase Two of the program added Correia and Pershing Middle Schools in the 2005-2006 school year. This included the addition of eighteen science teachers and 1,870 additional students in grades 6, 7, and 8 bringing the total number of students served to over 3,600. Through the professional learning community that was established in Phase One, the teachers in Phase Two have been able to build on the learning of the Phase One teachers. In early 2006, San Diego Unified Educational Technology Department was awarded a $2.24 million dollar grant to continue to implement the ESETT program in grade 7 and 8 middle school science classrooms. Phase Three of the project will serve over 8,670 additional students attending eight district middle schools. This will bring the total students served to over 12,300. It will also bring 40 additional Teachers into the program. These schools were selected on the basis of student poverty level and their current access to educational technology. The eight schools that will participate in Phase Three are:
- Bell Junior High
- Challenger Middle School
- Farb Middle School
- Kroc Middle School
- Mann Middle School
- Montgomery Middle School
- Pacific Beach Middle School
- Wilson Middle School
Phase Four began in spring 2006 when Lewis and Wangenheim Middle Schools joined ESETT. With the addition of these two schools, we added 14 teachers and over 2,500 students. As with the past phases of ESETT, both schools were brought up to speed by the ESETT professional learning community providing knowledge and expertise in infusing technology into the middle school science curriculum. Phase Four brings the total teachers served to 87 and the total students served to over 14,800.
Phase Five is set to begin in Fall 2007 and will include Marston and Taft Middle Schools. This phase has been made possible through a $578,100 EETT Competitive Grant awarded to the San Diego Unified Educational Technology Department. Phase Five will add 8 additional teachers and over 2,000 students bringing the total teachers served to 95 and the total students to approximately 16,850. Phase Five teachers and students will benefit from the expertise of previous phases of ESETT teachers in thier use of technology in the classroom for teaching and learning. Phase Five brings the total number of middle schools in ESETT to 16. San Diego Unified School District Press Release on the ESETT Program Introduction to ESETT (Narrated Slideshow)
|
