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June 3, 1999
GRANT TO HELP ALASKA TEACHERS

Professional development in technology and content will be provided for Alaska teachers through a $950,000 grant to the University of Alaska SoutheastÍs Professional Education Center (PEC) for a collaborative project with the Alaska Department of Education.

The two-year grant from the U.S. Department of Education will help teachers earn an Educational Technology Endorsement from UAS and receive professional development through Internet delivered classes.

"This is really a critical time in Alaska Education," according to Scott Christian, PEC director. High school students must pass a qualifying exam starting in 2002. "Basically what weÍre trying to do is provide professional development to teachers across Alaska using distance delivery techniques. WeÍre trying to provide teachers with the tools so students will be successful."

"There is outstanding teaching happening all over the state," Christian said. "So often we donÍt hear about those best practices and exemplary models of instruction. By using technology we can share those throughout the state."

Part of the grant provides $3,000 scholarships to 100 teachers in 50 of the 53 Alaska school districts so they can complete the new UAS Educational Technology Endorsement. The program consists of seven graduate level courses, with five delivered through the Internet. The teachers will spend one summer of the Juneau UAS campus taking classes.

"This program will really develop leadership around the state in educational technology," Christian said. "There will be teachers in every district who will have a deep knowledge of how to integrate technology into education."

Another part of the grant is for the Content Area Standards Initiative. "For the first time in the history of education in Alaska," Christian said, "all five professional teaching organizations (The Alaska State Writing Consortium, the Alaska Math and Science Consortiums, the Alaska Geographic Alliance and the Bread Loaf Rural Teacher Network) will be working together." Members of the organizations will develop Internet-delivered courses specific to a content area.

For information contact:
Scott Christian, Profession Education Center, 465-8744

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