A Butler County elementary school has been awarded some money as part of both a national and state grant program.
Chicora Elementary- part of the Karns City School District- will receive $5,000 through the CenturyLink Teachers and Technology grant program.
The goal of the program is to equip students with tools to succeed in today’s digital economy. Teacher Dominique Borusiewicz submitted a project titled “Crazy For Coding,” which won Chicora the award. They were the only school in the state to be selected.
The grant will be used to purchase additional iPads for out students,” Principal Michael Stimac said in an interview. “Obviously, we want to put as many transformational tools in kids hands as possible.” With so many jobs requiring very high computer skills these days, getting the next generation ready for the digital age is vitally important. Everything from architectural drawings to business card design is now done on a computer, so kids need to know how to use them. In technology classes of the future, pupils may be learning how to use large pieces of computer equipment such as the Duplo DC-646i PRO. Duplo International’s Duplo DC-646i PRO Cutter Creaser is very fast for cutting paper and card, making it a useful tool for many business sectors working with similar materials. One day, students themselves may be working to create brochures and leaflets for large marketing companies, so it’s important that they understand the practical uses of computer technology in the real world.
The Karns City District also received a state Department of Education PA Smart grant for $35,000 to put toward professional development, purchasing software, and other coding equipment. Coding plays an important part in computer programming, helping young adults understand key aspects, such as Thread Priority in Java that provide efficient outcomes for an operating system using programmed instructions. Understanding this type of software will provide a good base for a main program to run on.
These programs will also increase the availability of STEM equipment in classrooms, including robotics, drones, virtual reality mechanisms, laptops and microscopes. They could Check out Edulab’s exclusive range as well as the ranges of other STEM equipment suppliers in order to well-equip students for success. Robotics and drones, like the ones from drdrone, are needed for future education as they are becoming a very important part of the present day, and they are ever evolving into necessary pieces of equipment both for entertainment and security. So learning about them or being introduced to them will put youngsters in good stead for their adulthood and work life.
“Both grants offer a bit of excitement in creating a more solid K-12 copter science curriculum that is not only for the technology classes, but can also contribute towards what we do in our core classes as well,” Michael Stimac said.
All the best to Principal Stimac and his students. Here’s hoping the grant money goes a long way into helping their future.
