EdTechRI Testbed

$1.7 Million Grant Will Go Toward Rhode Island Ed Tech Teacher Projects The Highlander Institute will continue to grow two programs designed to help teachers practice and study with education technology. BY LINDA BORG, THE PROVIDENCE JOURNAL, R.I. / AUGUST 23, 2016 A teacher works with a student on a computer. SHUTTERSTOCK (TNS) — PROVIDENCE, R.I. — The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has awarded a $1.7-million grant to Highlander Institute to expand Fuse RI and the EdTechRI Testbed. Fuse RI was launched in 2014 to to help educators blend technology and traditional classroom teaching. The two-year project recruits teachers from across the state and pairs them with Fuse Fellows, who are technology experts, to develop those blended classrooms, set policy for school districts using the blended-learning system and for professional teacher training. Fuse RI is the brainchild of Shawn Rubin, Highlander Institute's chief education officer. Over the past two years, Fuse RI has trained 34 fellows to work in 18 districts. A separate program called EdTechRI Testbed will train approximately 40 teachers across 12 Providence schools, studying the effects of math and reading software and individualized learning programs.