San Diego Unified Educational Technology Department will implement Phase 4 of the “Enhancing Science Education through Technology” (ESETT) program (funded by NCLB, Title II, Part D) in grade 6, 7, and 8 middle school science classrooms at Lewis and Wangenhemim Middle Schools beginning in spring 2007.   The ESETT program will integrate technology into the middle school science curriculum to expand student engagement and learning opportunities in inquiry-based science education.

The ESETT research-based program is designed to augment the district’s curriculum based on scientific inquiry, with educational activities that incorporate the use of technology in much the same way that a scientist would use technology in his/her work.  The ESETT program includes three components:

• integrating technology into inquiry-based activities that address state and national science content standards;
• research-based professional development program;
• providing the technology needed to allow students to create and present inquiry-based science activities based on state science standards.

With the addition of these two schools, we will add 14 teachers and over 2,500 students.  As with the past phases of ESETT, both schools will be 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.

For additional information on Phase Four, please click on an item in the article index to the right.