>>Satellite Internet Access And Curriculum Improves High School SAT Test
Scores By 38%
INTERNET WIRE -- The Classroom for the 21st Century, located at Mt. Empire High School, within an underrepresented
minority school district in San Diego County, was the site of a unique project in high-speed Internet connectivity and classroom
modernization. Students in grades 10-12 were given access to cutting edge telecommunications with a goal of enrichment through
science and technology. The results were dramatic. For those students who fall at the bottom third of their class, recently released test scores were 38 percent higher
on the annual Stanford Achievement Test (SAT) than their non-Classroom 21 counterparts.
"These scores are an indication that the program helped those students most in need of academic enrichment," said Greg Ryan, school superintendent for the
Mountain Empire district.
Anew era in education
World Wide Wireless Web Corporation's (W4) high-speed Internet access satellite delivery system made it practical to bring advanced technology to Mt. Empire
High School.
Providing internet connectivity for remote sites throughout the world, W4 joined the San Diego Supercomputer Center's (SDSC) Science & Technology
Outreach program in 1999 to employ SDSC's advanced high-performance computing and communications (HPCC) infrastructure, including a satellite dish to link
SDSC's networks with W4's Internet Satellite Access Program.
Fully equipped by W4 with new personal computers, printers, computer-friendly desks, and whiteboards, Classroom 21 offered classes ranging from English,
government, and history to intermediate algebra and chemistry. The students spent approximately an hour per subject: conducting research via the Internet, learning
how to use various software packages, and honing their typing and general research skills. In an effort to improve the students' communication and organization skills,
they often convened their laboratory exercises in small groups and then summarized their team's research efforts in class presentations.
Participating students indicated that the first year of Classroom 21 was successful, as most of the high schoolers felt that their research, typing, communication, and
overall academic skills had greatly improved. Several students reported an increase in their grades; for instance, one student said that she had a C in English and a D
in History last year, while this year's grades increased to Bs in both subjects.
"A specific goal of this project was to determine if specific subjects could be taught better from the Web or from a standard classroom," said science teacher Roger
Wynn, who served as Classroom 21 coordinator at Mountain Empire this year. "Our determination was that the Web access definitely benefited the majority of all
participating students, particularly in the areas of history and English. One of our English teachers actually said that he could not imagine conducting his class without
the Web now and hopes to have access again next year."
For more information on Classroom 21 and the outreach program, contact Steve Napear, SDSC Associate Director for Science & Technology Outreach,
619-534- 8302 napear@sdsc.edu and/or Walt Johnson, of W4 walt@w4.net
About W4
W4 is a San Diego, California-based company providing high-performance Internet access and value-added content services to schools, universities, and
researchers. With its W4.NET, ISP affiliates reach under-served regions of the world using satellite, wireless local loop, and proprietary distribution technologies.
The goal of W4 is to provide high-quality, reliable broadband Internet access to disenfranchised users. W4's remote Internet access offers users the necessary
high-speed Internet access without waiting for the local service providers' infrastructure investments.<<
biz.yahoo.com |
