Straight A Grant Overview

FAQ

DigiLit: Gearity School’s Straight A-funded Initiative

What is DigiLit?

DigiLit is a digital literacy project that is designed to transform the look and feel of the classroom for elementary school students in grades preK-5. The DigiLit project at Gearity Professional Development School will develop, implement and test an innovative model of English Language Arts (ELA) teaching by infusing digital tools and software in ELA instruction to accelerate literacy learning and increase students' academic content vocabulary, especially in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math). DigiLit is also designed to include the family and further cement long-standing partnerships with local Universities and the local Library system to expand access to 21st century literacies without increasing long-term costs.

What will be different in the DigiLit classroom?

The Digilit classroom is a flexible, participatory environment that weaves together virtual and physical learning spaces. It includes common and studio-like learning areas where students network, collaborate and interact meaningfully using digital tools/apps to read, write, talk, construct, share and think. In project-based Makerspaces, students explore, experiment and problem solve in ways that accelerate conventional and digital literacy skills, and develop STEM knowledge. DigiLit will involve remaking the physical space of the elementary school classroom into an environment to support 21st Century learning that includes technology (e.g., rolling tables and chairs to support student work that moves from individual work to small groups to whole class).

What are the benefits of DigiLit?

Through DigiLit, students will improve in reading and language arts while developing  robust 21st Century skills prevalent in today’s digital environment. This will be achieved through infusion of technological tools in the classrooms; intensive professional development and coaching to effectively instruct and engage students in using these tools; and collaboration among the school, local universities, the local library system, and parents.

Why Gearity?
Gearity has an established partnership with John Carroll University (JCU) that dates to 2006. Gearity received funding from the Martha Holden Jennings Foundation to develop the partnership with JCU, becoming a Professional Development School. Professional Development Schools, formed through University/School partnerships allow for implementation of new teaching strategies, methods and technologies in an atmosphere of continuous improvement, action research and professional development marked by collaboration. The DigiLit project was developed through this existing partnership.

Who is involved in the DigiLit project?

DigiLit is designed to infuse digital literacy into the school and include the family and larger community. Partnerships with the JCU teacher education program, Heights Libraries, and parents will enrich and extend DigiLit by increasing its instructional capacity, leveraging library staff as media mentors and actively involving parents through the use of social media. Professors from Cleveland State, Case Western Reserve and the University of Akron will lend expertise in digital tools, applications and evaluation. Working in concert, these partnerships optimize the language arts, personalize learning based on students' interests and needs, provide a variety of supports and create excitement for learning for students, families and the wider community.

What is Straight A?

Straight A is a highly competitive grant opportunity using Ohio Lottery funds for innovative projects in education. Awarded projects are required to show that the project will be sustained for five years after initial implementation while maintaining or reducing costs. In Straight A Round 1 $88.6 million was awarded to 24 projects. DigiLit will receive funding through Round 2, which will award $141.9 to 34 projects. In Straight A Round 2, 73% of the school districts in Ohio were involved in a project application.

How do I get more information?

Please contact: s_pardee@chuh.org OR roskos@jcu.edu

(August 2014)

MakerSpaces

What Are Makerspaces? Makerspaces are part of a growing movement of hands- on, mentor-led learning environments to make and remake the physical and digital worlds. They foster experimentation, invention, creation, and exploration through design thinking and project-based learning.Learn More

http://www.inventtolearn.com/
http://www.makershed.com/

http://elementaryedtech.com/2014/02/10/ntcsym-session-peek-inside-a-21st-centuryblended-learning-primary-classroom/