Famous artwork, life-size calculators and the ocean floor are just a few things that will be at the fingertips of Denver Academy (DA) students thanks to the addition of 23 interactive whiteboards to classrooms across the school. The new technology was awarded through a grant from the Morgridge Family Foundation’s 21st Century Classrooms Collaboration. In addition to the interactive whiteboards, Denver Academy teachers will also receive teacher training and formative assessment tools.
“At Denver Academy, we are committed to integrating technology into our classrooms and recognize that the advantages offered by the interactive whiteboards will be especially beneficial for our student population,”
Bringing the World to DA Classrooms
“Our students will have the world at their fingertips. The whiteboards will bring art to life for students and allow them to interact with artwork in ways that were not possible before,” said DA’s Arts & Technology Coordinator Kris Fritzsche. “They will be able to manipulate imagery, trace famous works to get a feel for style and research their favorite artists all in one classroom.”
Teachers from schools who received the grant have already begun to receive training on the technology, and they will also have the opportunity to share their experiences and communicate through teacher blogs.
DA Selected Through Competitive Process
DA participated in a competitive application process, with applications from over 1,000 educators from across Colorado for first round of funding. Nearly 350 applicants were selected by a panel of committee members to receive interactive toolkits, valued at a total of $1.3 million. Funding for the second round of this project is expected to take place in January 2009.
About the 21st Century Classrooms Collaboration
The 21st Century Classrooms Collaboration was formed by the Morgridge Family Foundation with the vision that interactive technology and multi-media curriculum will be used as tools to impact student achievement, teacher engagement and retention. Seventeen districts, charter and private schools were invited to participate in the project. This program will be carefully evaluated by the Morgridge Family Foundation to ensure maximum impact on student performance.
About Denver Academy
Denver Academy is the only coed, 1st through 12th grade independent school in the Denver metro area dedicated to teaching students with learning differences and unique learning styles. Students at Denver Academy are best described as having average or above aptitudes but have not reached their academic potential in traditional educational settings. Some have identifiable learning profiles such as dyslexia or attention deficits, while others have strengths in non-traditional learning styles. For more information on Denver Academy, visit www.denveracademy.org.
