Teaching with technology grant to Abbitt
2/21/08
Jason Abbitt (educational psychology) has received funding from the Texas Education Agency and the U.S. Department of Education for a partnership designed to build on national, state and local efforts to improve science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) achievement among Texas students.
The $33,992 grant is the latest in more than $57,000 funding to develop an innovative pilot project that will enhance the teaching of STEM courses and increase the number of students who study and enter STEM careers.
Abbitt assists in conducting research and developing Web-based systems for delivering online professional development projects for K-12 educators. The East Texas STEM Center project provides assistance to rural East Texas school districts, particularly those with high need schools.
Abbitt joined Miami's faculty in 2005. His research interests include the development of self-efficacy in teaching with technology, best practices for online teaching and learning, and the development of Internet-based learning and collaboration systems.
Among the courses he teaches are behavioral statistic. He is also offering a two-day workshop this summer designed to expand classroom use of the Internet, including utilizing blogs and wikis (software that allows users to create, edit and link web pages easily).
"The continually evolving uses of technology in the classroom provide opportunities for teaching and learning to happen in new and unique ways. I'm particularly interested in the new ways in which technology can enable collaboration both inside and outside of a classroom environment," says Abbitt.