With support from the South Florida Annenberg Challenge, Bart Christie, principal, and Armando Codina, CEO of the Codina Group, embarked on a PASS partnership with a focus on utilizing technology as a foundation for promoting inquiry based instruction. Together, they implemented "Kids Win With Technology," a project designed to improve student performance in reading, writing, and mathematics. The project examined how the Internet could be used to promote learning among students, parents and teachers beyond the boundaries of the conventional classroom. This project incorporated Florida's Goal 3 Standards, which directly address the skills students must acquire to become effective, successful workers in the 21st century.

The Bent Tree PASS partnership was implemented with the following objectives:

• Strengthen inquiry-based teaching and learning through the use of the World Wide Web.
• Implement student writing and mathematical projects and post them on individual teacher web pages.
• Prepare classroom environments to incorporate technology into the daily learning process.
• Improve teacher access to the Internet and a variety of educational software.
• Increase family involvement in the educational program.
• Enhance community involvement in the school's educational plan.

At least two Internet-linked computers were placed in each classroom for daily student/teacher use as well as access to the Codina/Bent Tree Computer Lab during regularly scheduled times under the supervision of a computer lab instructor. As a result, students and parents were able to access home learning assignments, age-appropriate websites to explore as well as complete curriculum-based online activities.

Families who were unfamiliar with computers or the Internet had access to the Codina/Bent Tree Computer Lab, which was open three evenings a week with a technician present for student, parent and teacher support. Selected honor students from the school's high school feeder pattern delivered free tutoring to parents. Student incentives, such as water bottles, school key chains and mouse pads, were provided for those who attended the computer lab in the evenings.

Teachers participated in onsite computer training sessions, and maintained portfolios that demonstrated their application of these training sessions. Teachers also developed individual web pages that were linked to the school's web site.

In addition, students were assigned regular writing assignments, including computer-generated samples and projects. Teachers maintained a class math Internet portfolio reflecting their students' activities, which were then presented to parents in evening workshops. "Parent response was favorable and students demonstrated academic gains along with a more positive learning attitude," said Principal Bart Christie.

The community shared in the excitement that was generated through the participation of Bent Tree Elementary in the PASS program. Recognition in the Miami Herald and local community magazines as well as the business publication, Florida Trend, has promoted school-wide pride and a continued effort to strive for even further achievements. Over the three-year partnership, Governor Jeb Bush, Florida Education Commissioner Charlie Christ, Secretary of Education Jim Horne, and State Senator Alex Diaz de la Portilla visited Bent Tree Elementary. During the spring of 2002, the Miami-Dade County Commission presented the school with a Proclamation of Bent Tree Elementary Day.

 top