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 | Week of June 15, 2000 |
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Science museum grant to fuel evolution of high-tech classrooms By Candice VentraThe Miami Museum of Science is getting $11 million to train the state's educational leaders in how to use technology in the classroom. A $5.5 million grant was awarded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and is to be matched by funds from the Florida Department of Education. Judy Brown, vice president of program development and research for the museum, said the museum operated the Florida Technology Trainer Enhancement Center for 10 years in conjunction with the state's department of education. "There we produce training material to help school districts deliver good quality technology training statewide," Ms. Brown said. Two years ago, she said, the museum expanded the center to include Making Technology Happen — a training program geared toward school administrators. The grant is to expand those programs, she said. "We are going to be working with the Florida Association of District School Superintendents and school principals to integrate technology in their ongoing programs through a series of workshops," Ms. Brown said. A large part of the program, she said, helps administrators find classroom resources via the Internet. The program also helps administrators understand computer networking and infrastructure, she said. Tom Gallagher, state education commissioner, said he hopes other businesses will see the importance of leveraging their dollars to support technology training for public schools. "This grant is great news for the state," Mr. Gallagher said. "We commend the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for their investment in education. This type of partnership we hope other business organizations will embrace." Russell Etling, president & CEO of the Miami Museum of Science, said the grant demonstrates how museums can play a role in enhancing the quality of public education. "We feel we are advancing the definition of how science centers can impact their communities," Mr. Etling said. "This is a great step in improving the Florida State educational system." The terms of the grant and proposal can be seen on-line at www.miamisci.org, he said. Mr. Etling said the grant is a contracted grant and will not be used for the museum's proposed expansion. With the help from a $1.8 million state grant in 1997 executives conducted a study to determine the feasibility of building a larger museum. That study determined the museum would inject $44.5 million in direct dollars with a new home. A 365,000-square-foot building has been proposed for an undetermined site, Mr. Etling said. He said museum board members have reportedly looked at a site on Watson Island but have not confirmed whether it will work. During the just-concluded Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce goals conference, Mr. Etling and others from the museum lobbied the chamber to seek Bicentennial Park land for the museum's new home. One volunteer said the museum had studied more than 20 sites and concluded that Bicentennial Park was its preferred location. Details: (305) 646-4200 or Florida State Department of Education, (850) 487-1785.
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