Program
Description: |
The purpose of the Technology Immersion Pilot (TIP) project is to explore the impact of technology immersion on student progress by providing each student with a wireless mobile computing device and integrating software, online resources, and other appropriate learning technologies that have been shown to improve student achievement. A technology immersed campus would involve the development of a comprehensive education technology environment that provide for the acquisition, development, interconnection, implementation, improvement and maintenance of an effective educational technology infrastructure. The purpose of this infrastructure is to effectively integrate technology resources and systems into teacher training, curriculum development and student learning at the campus level to improve student achievement.
The Texas Education Agency (TEA) was awarded a federal grant in October 2003 to evaluate a component of this project using scientifically-based research to provide evidence about the effectiveness of educational technology in K-12 education. In doing so, we will help increase the capacity of state and local education agencies across the nation to design, conduct, and procure high-quality evaluations of educational technology projects by demonstrating how scientifically based evaluations of educational technology interventions can be conducted.
The purpose of the Evaluation of the Texas Technology Immersion Pilot (eTxTIP) is to conduct a scientifically-based evaluation at the state level to test the effectiveness of technology immersion in increasing middle school students’ achievement in core academic subjects. In particular, the evaluation will examine the association between technology immersion and student technology use, as well as the effect on the school environment, personnel, and parent and community partnerships. Most importantly, the research will determine the effect of technology immersion on both intermediate and long-term student outcomes, such as technology proficiency, performance on the Texas Assessment of Academic Skills (TAKS), student attendance and dropout rates, as well as students’ personal goals and aspirations.
This federal evaluation grant calls for a representative sample of Texas middle schools based on size and geographic location. The six middle schools selected at this time to participate as immersed campuses include one large and five very small campuses. To increase the pool of middle schools for the evaluation study, a release of TIP Round 2 is scheduled for May 21, 2004. Applicants who submitted and application for TIP under RFA #701-04-009 but were not selected for funding may submit an application under RFA#701-04-033.
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