A r c h i v e d I n f o r m a t i o n

Challenge Grants for Techonology In Education - FY95

Indianapolis Public Schools

Indianapolis, Indiana

A Learning Cooperative

The Indianapolis Public Schools are pioneering a unique school/government/business consortium called "A Learning Cooperative: Connecting and Supporting Systemic Mathematics, Science and Technology Initiatives via Telecommunication." Utilizing the experience and resources of Ameritech, a cellular service provider, this consortium is developing an affordable, scaleable, and equitably distributed telecommunication infrastructure which links the North Central Regional Educational Laboratory (NCREL), 25 schools in Indianapolis, 25 in Chicago, and 3 in Walled Lake, Michigan. The new network delivers research-based curriculum and technical support to participating schools, and it provides professional development activities for the program's teachers. The program promotes systemic change in the teaching of mathematics, science, and technology, is in accord with the recommendations of the Goals 2000 Act, and has strong school-home, school-community and school-work elements. About 90,000 students receive direct benefit from the project. There are six major components of the program:

1) Developing and Sharing Exemplary Instruction

The network allows exemplary teachers to conduct lessons at participating consortium schools via "distance learning." Lessons are prepared in the form of "Curriculum Support Units" (CSU's), short video programs with supplementary text that teach specific key concepts. Through careful collaboration among the consortium members, the CSU's are designed to address basic math and science concepts, and to fit smoothly within the curriculum frameworks of each district.

2) Providing Professional Development

The Learning Cooperative provides unique professional development opportunities for individual teachers, principals, administrators and school community teams. During regularly scheduled on-line meetings, educators analyze and improve their curriculum, instruction and assessment practices in math and science. The system provides access to a database of professional development materials produced by NCREL, and it is connected via the Internet to other professional development resources.

3) Providing Technical Assistance and Educational Support

The Learning Cooperative and Ameritech have established a group of advisors that provide technical support related to the program's infrastructure and educational content. The advisors help participating teachers identify effective methods for putting Learning Cooperative activities in place, suggest ways to share ideas for using the system, and promote the use of technology in math and science instruction.

4) Improving Communications Between Parents and Schools

The Learning Cooperative is building awareness of the need for increased parental involvement in the educational program, and it is working to improve the connection between parents and school staff. The consortium's telecommunication infrastructure is being used to provide information to parents on specific ways they can take an active role in school activities, to convene parent support groups, to establish a hotline for homework information, to provide a voice mail service for teachers, and to produce educational television broadcasts.

5) Conducting Evaluation

The Learning Cooperative is conducting an ongoing evaluation for the purpose of: 1) determining its progress in achieving goals; 2) improving the curriculum; 3) identifying barriers to a successful program; and 4) identifying the next steps in improving the program. Evaluation activities have been designed to help consortium partners measure their own progress in improving math and science curricula and understand the theories behind best practice methods in math and science teaching.

6) Developing Partnerships to Provide Ongoing Resources

The Learning Cooperative has established an educational communications system for use by school personnel, parents, and community members. The system contains information on the effective uses of technology in learning and teaching, and it allows teachers, parents, community members and other interested individuals to make contacts, learn and work together, or just talk to one another. The system is connected to numerous other Internet resources related to critical education reform issues.

Each partner in the consortium has a unique role. Ameritech is installing and maintaining the equipment. The Indianapolis Public Schools are leading the development of science units and staff development. The Chicago Public Schools are developing mathematics activities and staff development activities. The Walled Lake Community Schools are developing a method to integrate the science and math units into the curriculum of the three districts. NCREL is developing communities of practice and curriculum support units, as well as scheduling distance learning through the telecommunication infrastructure.

The "Learning Cooperative" has developed a comprehensive program that utilizes educational technologies to revitalize the education process in participating schools, involve parents in school reform, and promote cooperation between disparate school systems in three midwestern states.

Consortium Partners

Ameritech (Indianapolis, IN)
Chicago Public Schools
Detroit High School of Commerce & Business Administration
Indianapolis Public Schools
LearningAccess (Washington, DC)
North Central Regional Educational Laboratory (NCREL) (Oak Brook, IL)
Walled Lake Consolidated Schools (Walled Lake, MI)

PROJECT DIRECTOR:: John Kern
Supervisor of Telecommunication
Indianapolis Public Schools
801 N. Carrollton Avenue
Indianapolis, IN 46202
Telephone:: 317-226-4122
Fax:: 317-226-3130

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[Anderson Community School Corporation]

[Natchitoches Parish School Board]