Cutting Edge Classrooms Announced For North Mississippi Districts

FROM PRESS RELEASE

PONTOTOC, MISS. (Jan. 9, 2013) – Twenty-four classrooms in eight North Mississippi school districts will receive complete technology packages at no cost thanks to the Appalachian Regional Commission, a division of the Governor’s Office, eInstruction®, and Three Rivers Planning and Development District.

Today officials announced the technology initiative for 24 classrooms in eight school districts in Pontotoc, Union and Lee counties. eInstruction, a global education technology company, will donate 12 classroom technology packages, and through an ARC grant, an additional 12 will be purchased. The packages include a complete classroom instruction system from eInstruction with a mobile interactive whiteboard for the teacher, fixed touch screen interactive whiteboard, student response devices (clickers), and examination software to help prepare students for state testing.

The University of Mississippi’s Center for Educational Research and Evaluation (CERE) will assist in the evaluation of the technology pilot project with additional support from the North Mississippi Education Consortium, which will provide services to teachers who will incorporate this technology in their classrooms.

 

“Our goal is for every classroom in Three Rivers’ eight counties to one day have this technology,” commented Randy Kelley, executive director of Three Rivers Planning and Development District (TRPDD). “Right now, a lot of the classes have elements of the technology, but not entire systems like these that were donated today.”

eInstruction commented on its part in today’s announcement. “As districts look to bring best practices into the classroom, bridge the gap to higher level learning, and meet new digital assessment requirements, it has become increasingly important to fully evaluate the many solutions and products available on the market. eInstruction is honored to play an active role in the implementation and evaluation of this new technology in several local classrooms,” said Samir Joglekar, Senior Vice President of Sales at eInstruction.

The schools receiving the new technology include:

Pontotoc County

1 at North Pontotoc Elementary

1 at North Pontotoc Upper Elementary

2 at South Pontotoc Elementary

2 at D.T. Cox Elementary School

2 at Pontotoc Middle School

 

Lee County

4 at Plantersville Middle School

2 at Milam Elementary School

1 at Baldwyn Middle School

1 at Nettleton Primary School

 

Union County

4 at New Albany Elementary

1 at Ingomar Attendance Center

1 at Myrtle Attendance Center

1 at East Union Attendance Center

1 at West Union Attendance Center

Each technology package includes Insight 360™, a classroom software platform that facilitates and simplifies instructional content planning, delivery, real-time assessment and higher level learning achievement. Additional components include Mobi 360™, eInstruction® Touch Board, Pulse 360™ class pack, and ExamView® Learning Series.

Mobi 360 is a portable interactive whiteboard with a personal touch screen that allows educators to annotate over and control lesson content while moving freely throughout the classroom.

Pulse 360 facilitates formative and summative assessment. Students use the clickers to instantly answer multiple choice, multiple correct, numerical and true-false questions. Teachers receive instant reports on the Mobi 360 allowing for more personalized instruction.

eInstruction® Touch Boards create a more engaging, interactive classroom where students can solve problems, write sentences, draw pictures, or annotate over lesson content.

ExamView Learning Series is a collection of questions specifically aligned to 40 states’ standards, Common Core State Standards and Curriculum Topics.

“The McLean Institute for Public Service and Community Engagement will assist in coordinating the university’s involvement with TRPDD’s technology initiative,” commented Albert Nylander, director of the McLean Institute located at the University of Mississippi. “The university is delighted to serve as a partner in this project. These technological advances are preparing our students for higher learning through actively engaging students in learning-centered activities.”

Dr. Maxine Harper serves as director of the Center for Educational Research and Evaluation, which is committed to providing high-quality research and evaluation services to North Mississippi. Dr. Cecil Weeks is co-director of the North Mississippi Education Consortium, which provides educational programs for students and communities throughout the area.

The technology initiative will be implemented along with PEP (Performance Enrichment Program), a program where high school students tutor younger students to close achievement gaps in poor and disadvantaged students.

“We were pleased to help with this grant, because Gov. Bryant is extremely dedicated to education,” said Mike Armour, executive director of the Appalachian Regional Commission Mississippi. “Our students’ education is foremost on our minds, especially since these children will be competing globally.”

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