DECATUR -- In an effort to keep pace with the ever-changing demands that higher education puts on students these days, the Decatur School District will employ new innovative ways to provide its students the best education possible.
The district received good news from the University of Missouri in Columbia May 24 in the form of a grant for Decatur Middle School.
Decatur is one of 11 Arkansas school districts chosen to participate in the university's "enhancing Missouri's Instructional Networked Teaching Strategies" (eMINTS) program.
"Currently, eMINTS helps teachers create classrooms where they facilitate real-life learning experiences for their students by integrating technology in ways that transform learning," said Christie Terry, associate director of eMINTS. "For example, a group of 8th graders in one eMINTS classroom investigated a destroyed river wetland in collaboration with the state conservation department. Students used technology to collect and analyze data, connect with experts in the field and create a series of kiosks that could be installed along the river to inform the public about the wetland ecosystem."
Other school districts in Arkansas that were chosen for this program include Alepena, Bauxite, Berryville, Cedarville, Pea Ridge, Farmington, Huntsville, Mammoth Springs, Mountain Home and Prairie Grove.
"It's incredible to know this journey will have authentic learning for the students," said Jacque Smith, Decatur schools' technology facilitator. "Since eMint is a nationally recognized program, it is exciting for a small rural school to have the opportunity to participate."
Beginning with 2016-17 school year, the seventh grade classes at Decatur Middle will be part of a five-year research study to improve teaching methods in the quest to give students the best education possible.
"By electing to be a part of the program, we are required to have one person in our district to be trained in the training program and that will be Jacque Smith," said John Unger, dean of students at Decatur Middle School. "Two benefits of the program are that the teachers will get excellent professional development from the eMINTS staff and from Jacque Smith, and the other benefit is that the seventh grade will get Chromebooks for each student and each teacher."
General News on 06/29/2016