9454703 Fiske Project SMART provides a testbed for the role of electronic networks in support of educational reform. In an environment created by the cooperation of business, higher education, state agencies, K-12 education institutions, students and educators, this project tests the benefits of open access to: * INTERNET and other telecommunications resources. * Quality mathematics and science instructional lessons congruent with national and emerging state standards * On-going assistance through school-based support staff, * Electronic access to community resources, proximal and distal to individual schools. Project SMART tests technical support strategies and the scaling up of training to the vast numbers of students and teachers who share the need to "do" science and mathematics and contribute to the creation of new curricula. It provides answers to questions about how a telecommunications infrastructure connecting all our public institutions can foster out-of-school programs, establish life-long learning programs, and inform the community. Gender and equity issues in telecommunications are the main thrust of this proposal. Project SMART explores ways to promote equity among schools, teachers and students in gaining access to and effectively using technology. Agreements with NYNEX Corp. provide free phone lines to public schools throughout Rhode Island for access to a complete array of Internet services. Regional modem pools have eliminated toll charges, removing a major obstacle to employing telecommunications in the classroom. Therefore, because many of the difficulties associated with the costs of telecommunications are being resolved, this proposal focuses on the individuals and groups who will be connected, as well as purposes for their connections. Project SMART demonstrates how infrastructure changes underlying almost three years of SSI activities in mathematics and science can activel y support technology infusion into schools. Project SMART increases the capacity of training organizations to provide training, ultimately, to every K-12 school teacher in Rhode Island. Building based support staff will link each school to a state network of educators developing effective applications of telecommunications in science and mathematics. In addition the Rhode Island Office of Higher Education will introduce RINet to several colleges and universities where is it not being used to expand the infrastructure of the network. Project SMART addresses the need to change learning and teaching by using: * Expertise in educational and telecommunications methods within Rhode Islands' colleges and universities; * Consultants able to support the needs of specific * populations of users; * Content area specialists; * Successful teacher pioneers. The project supports successful applicant teams from every district and teams of higher education faculty from teacher preparation institutions. Specific efforts address concerns noted in the literature pertaining to gender and equity differences among computer users by providing technical support to traditionally under represented populations in team selection and project involvement. Instructional units created by participants will include embedded assessment items and rubrics supported by a manual for educators to access related telecommunication resources. All participants receive the full support necessary to: * Develop model instructional units; * Create, develop, modify or extend educational activities using network; * Use electronic networks (Internet) for improved K-12 instruction in science and mathematics; * Maintain dialogue via Rhode Island Network (RINet). ***
