Community of Learners Network Grant, NSF

Award Abstract #9454766 Community of Learners Network NSF Org: DRL Division Of Research On Learning divider line Initial Amendment Date: September 30, 1994 divider line Latest Amendment Date: July 25, 1996 divider line Award Number: 9454766 divider line Award Instrument: Continuing grant divider line Program Manager: Larry E. Suter DRL Division Of Research On Learning EHR Direct For Education and Human Resources divider line Start Date: January 1, 1995 divider line End Date: December 31, 1997 (Estimated) divider line Awarded Amount to Date: $927,800.00 divider line Investigator(s): Ann Billings abilling@polar.bowdoin.edn (Principal Investigator) Allen Tucker (Co-Principal Investigator) Raymond Fisher (Former Co-Principal Investigator) Harry Hopcroft (Former Co-Principal Investigator) divider line Sponsor: Maine School Administration District #75 P.O. Box 475 Topsham, ME 04086-0475 (207)725-3108 divider line NSF Program(s): NETWORKING INFRASTRUCT-EDUCAT, STATEWIDE SYSTEMIC INITIATIVES divider line Program Reference Code(s): 9177, 9217, HPCC, SMET divider line Program Element Code(s): 5864, 7263, 7360 ABSTRACT 9454766 Billings The Community of Learners is the joint proposal of two Maine public school districts and Bowdoin College that have already worked together successfully to obtain and implement the Beacon School Project, largely funded by the National Science Foundation and part of its State Systemic Initiative. This proposal has five major objectives that have far-reaching educational significance: 1) To accelerate and enrich the intellectual dialogue within the region through the development of an information network. 2) To reach out to the community and share developments in science, mathematics, and technology. 3) To empower students intellectually through the use of technology. 4) To provide teachers with access to current information so that they can develop new approaches to curriculum and learning. 5) To provide a level playing field for all students in order to eliminate distinctions based on gender and socio-economic class. The proposal depends on four related strategies. They are: 1) To develop a data network that connects public schools, local libraries, and community centers, to households, to the Internet, and to a regional voice/data interactive video system. 2) To establish a broad-based program for the education and training of a Community of Learners that includes students, teachers, citizens, and businesses. 3) To construct a model for teaching that focuses on problem- finding and problem-solving. 4) To disseminate practices and findings both regionally and nationally to encourage other districts to develop Communities of Learners of their own. Please report errors in award information by writing to: awardsearch@nsf.gov.