A Network-Based Interactive Distance Education Program in Mathematics For Students And For Teacher Enhancement in Rural And Inner-City

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Peressini 9353689 This proposal is an invited revision of an earlier NSF proposal "Using computer networks to provide interactive university calculus instruction and in-service technology training for teachers in rural and inner-city high schools" (NSF-ID-9353689) with a reduced budget and scope of activities. During the past four years, a modem-based network connecting the University of Illinois to approximately twenty-five rural and inner-city high schools and a distance interactive instructional strategy have evolved that are capable of delivering a college- credit, electronic text-based calculus course, Calculus & Mathematics, to these schools in an educationally sound and cost effective manner. Arrangements are now being made to sustain this model for course delivery independent of grant funds beginning with the 1996-97 school year. The direct instructional costs, including network costs, will be shared by the participating school districts and students, while the administrative cost will be borne by the University. This proposal seeks funding to expand and enhance this existing network testbed by: 1) implementing and evaluating two new networking models that are based on ISDN or T-1 line connections and that are not only capable of enhanced interactive course delivery, but also the delivery of Internet instructional resources to the participating schools; 2) designing, implementing and evaluating teacher enhancement activities (on-site and electronic) to develop a community of school-based personnel whose members are equipped to provide leadership in technology-based mathematics and science education in their schools; 3) establishing appropriate linkages between our network and other networks here and elsewhere that are delivering mathematics and science resources to high schools including the NSF-funded Urban Systemic Initiative in Chicago. The evaluation program for the project will be both formative and summative, and will ad dress: 1) course delivery performance of the new models with the current model; 2) effectiveness of the teacher enhancement activities; 3) changes in the instructional environment in the participating schomls resulting from the project. The ultimate objective will be to develop a sustainable (i.e. grant-independent), cost effective Internet-based network model linking the University and the participating high schools for the purposes of course delivery, teacher enhancement activities, and instructional resource access. ***