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| Ranking |
Good Idea |
| Description |
The Aspirnaut Initiative provides technology to rural middle-school and high-school students that allows them to take advantage of educational opportunities that may be physically distant. One component of this project has empowered these rural students to continue learning during their long bus rides to and from school: the initiative has turned school buses into rolling classrooms by wiring them for broadband internet and giving participating students laptops to access online courses or iPods loaded with educational videos.
In addition to the wi-fi buses, students in the Aspirnaut program have access to weekly videoconference science labs, accelerated/AP online courses with dual enrollment, summer research internships, and college guidance and mentorships. Through this project, high-performing students are able to enroll in virtual classes that their local school districts cannot offer because of limited staff and funding. |
| Goal / Mission |
The goal of the program is to elevate math and science achievement of students in rural communities through the use of technology. |
| Results / Accomplishments |
As of November 2010, approximately 200 students were participating in the Aspirnaut initiative. Students have completed advanced courses not offered by their school districts, some of which have earned them college credit. Students have also found mentors through participating in this program.
In a STEM videoconferencing pilot program in 2010, the participating class scored 10 percent higher than the traditional science class on the standard end-of-unit test. Ten schools in Arkansas, Maine, and Tennessee are currently using cloud technology to videoconference into science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) classes and lab exercises prepared and taught by scientists at Vanderbilt University. |
| Categories |
Education / School Resources
Education / School Environment
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| Organization(s) |
Aspirnaut |
| Date of Implementation |
2007 |
| Geographic Type |
Rural |
| Location |
State: Arkansas, Maine, North Carolina, Tennessee |
| Primary Contact |
Sara Carter, Program Coordinator
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
CCC3322 MCN
1161 21st Avenue South
Nashville, TN 37232-2103
(615) 936-5275
contact@aspirnaut.org
http://aspirnaut.org/
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| For more details |
http://thejournal.com/articles/2011/10/04/skypi...
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123050778470438...
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| Target Audience |
Children, Teens |
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Related Content
| Steering Committee Documents |
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