HP, ISTE partner to enhance technology integration in K-12 schools

Palo Alto, Calif: The main outcome of HP's grant will be development of the "ISTE Institute: Leading with NETS," a professional development program for educators based on ISTE's National Education Technology Standards (NETS). At the institute, school teams will meet for two days of face-to-face interactive training, followed by a 10-week mentored online course and concluding with a one-day face-to-face session, usually in conjunction with participation in a major technology in education conference. Participants will develop a deeper understanding of how to improve learning with technology integration and promote second-order change in the classroom.

Additionally, HP will fund the development of ISTE's online community for educators and help focus the attention of educators, policy-makers and others on student achievement through exclusive sponsorship of the Student Technology Leadership Symposium at ISTE's National Educational Computing Conference (NECC) in June. ISTE plans to support HP's efforts by training HP grant recipients during 2003 and evaluating the impact of the grants on ISTE Institute participants as well as the institute itself.

"HP and ISTE share a common vision and commitment to helping students to succeed through the most inventive and effective uses of technology in education," said Bess Stephens, vice president and global director, HP Philanthropy and Education. "By enabling ISTE to develop training and an online community, knowledge about how to make this vision a reality for all students will be available to educators everywhere."

"We're honored and excited that HP is investing in the ISTE-NETS approach to educational reform," said Leslie Conery, deputy chief executive officer, ISTE. "With HP's support, we'll be able to reach many more educators and students directly through the ISTE Institute, Leading with NETS. And, perhaps more importantly, we'll be building a replicable national and international model for teaching, learning and evaluating essential 21st century skills."