Federal Grants Bring High Tech to Local Schools

Last Friday, the conference room at the Temecula Unified School District office was filled with local teachers learning how to use new classroom technology thanks to a generous 2 year federal grant, known as an EETT or Enhancing Education Through Technology grant. 

The EETT grant awarded the TVUSD  $942,000. 

The primary goal of this EETT grant program is to provide funding to enhance math and science teaching in 32 classrooms 4th - 7th grades through the use of technology.

The teachers were being instructed on how to operate Quizdom, a radio frequency based operating system that allows teachers to monitor how well their students are comprehending the material they are teaching.

“Quizdom has been around for 24 years, but we have seen our biggest growth in the last 4 or 5 years,” Quizdom representative Brock Coruthers explained while taking a quick break from his training post in front of the projection screen.

"Schools have reported huge increases in test scores and many times students will bump up a full letter grade after implementing and utilizing the Quizdom system,” he said. “It’s effective because it keeps the teachers and students in tune with each other."

Quizdom is an interactive system that allows teachers to engage the whole class with specific questions. The teacher uses the writing tablet to send questions to the students. The question pops up on the students hand held devices that look like television remote controls. The students then send  their answers back and the teacher, who instantly sees the answers on the tablet. This type of communication allows teachers to assess the class as a whole.

Pre-Algebra teacher Breeze Patten just received the Quizdom system on February 24th.

“I’ve been using a different form of student interaction and it has been great. I look forward to using Quizdom as I know it will benefit the students and be a very successful addition to my classroom,” said Patten.

She added, "I think with the proper implementation of lessons and activities the responders can really help my students and will really help me understand what they know and don't know."

The students are eager to get their hands on the new technology, she said. “I just showed my classes the new Qwizdom student responders last week.  I didn't let them try them out as I was going to a training day on Friday. They were very excited and asked all sorts of questions."

Nine local schools were chosen to participate in the EETT grant program: , , , Bella Vista Middle, , Elementary, , Rancho Community Christian and

Karen Vogt a special assignment teacher for the district is currently managing two EETT Grants for our district explained, “the teachers seem excited about this program.”

Vogt added, "this is the last piece of equipment from our 2 year grant."