2004 Innovation in Education Award Winners
Program: One-to One at Home and School
District: Lemon Grove Elementary School District
Description: Things are different when every student in your class has a wireless web tablet that works just as well at home as it does in the classroom. These teachers have adapted their lesson plans and instructional practices for the One-to-One project so that in-class project-bases learning enabled by the technology is comprehensive and pace to cover the required material. Students quickly master the technology so the focus remains on the sixth grade subjects taught by these teachers.
Program: e-Backpack Network Storage
District: Grossmont Union High School District
Description: No more “My dog ate my homework!” excuses. With e-Backpack at Grossmont Union High School District, schoolwork is accessible from any Internet connection – in the classroom when the work is assigned in the school library or computer lab after classes, at home or a friend’s house when students work together on a project. These teachers are leading changes in teaching practices that introduce these technologies in ninth grade and build on its use year-by-year ultimately for senior portfolio presentations prior to graduation.
Program: Certificated Technology Specialist
District: Del Mar Elementary School District
Description: Change in the classroom to exploit technology effectively involves many success factors but perhaps most critical among them is the confidence and skill of the teacher. A most innovative approach at Del Mar Elementary School District dedicates a teacher with an instructional certificate as the technology and curriculum specialist, to coach, mentor and inspire all of their classroom teachers to adapt lesson plans and pedagogical strategies to make the most effective use of the technology resources available.
Program: CONEVyT Portal
District: San Ysidro Elementary School District
Description: Collaborations across language and culture, enabled by technology, reach across the border to improve teaching and learning among students and parents. Mexico and California are pioneering a learning portal for Spanish-speaking students that presents instructional resources aligned with California standards. Enabled by a grant of laptops in San Ysidro to access this portal, these teachers engage students in the classroom and their parents after school to explore exciting and stimulating learning experiences expressed in their language and culture, validating an innovative model for the whole country.
Program: CAHSEE Intervention
District: San Dieguito Union High School District
Description: How do you best use tutorial and remedial instructional materials when students need extra help to pass the high school exit exams? These teachers engage students assigned to their tutorial labs in innovative ways that produce exceptional results for students with the greatest needs. The technology supports their teaching practice of individual instruction and enables students to focus on the areas at their own pace but in a disciplined and accountable way.
Note: The current CFF awards for inspire, innovate, achieve and impact started in 2005. The award winners in 2004 were all one general category.