IMSA Launches Internet Skills Program for Illinois Schools

For Immediate Release, November 2002
For comment, contact Brenda Buschbacher at (630) 907-5033

AURORA-- The Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy (IMSA) launched the 21st Century Information Fluency Program for schools throughout Illinois. The program builds the capacity of middle and high school librarians, teachers and students to locate, evaluate and use Internet information resources productively.

School librarians participate in an online course and use a rich array of web-based learning materials and software tools. Librarians then recruit teachers from their schools to develop lesson plans that integrate Internet resources into learning experiences.

Participating librarians and teachers become members of an online network that connects them to Illinois colleagues dedicated to online learning and to timely information about online resources.

The 21st Century Information Fluency program is made possible through a $900,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Education that covers 89 percent of costs. The balance of funding is provided by IMSA.

Congressman and House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert secured the grant dollars for IMSA, calling the program a potential national model." Once again IMSA has stepped forward to meet an important state and national need, Hastert said. This program will ensure that more teachers and students have the knowledge, skills and dispositions to use the Internet to improve learning. This is especially critical in urban, rural and small towns where the digital divide is most pronounced."

The program, led by Dr. David Barr, director for development of online resources at IMSA, states “To continue to serve teachers and students in the 21st century, schools need to support the development of libraries without walls, providing access to digital multi-media information.” 

Program partners include the Illinois School Library Media Association, the Illinois Virtual High School, the Illinois Digital Academic Library and the Illinois Century Network.

The program involves partnerships with 100 Illinois middle and high schools during the 2002-2003 academic year. (See attached list of fall semester participating schools.)

Applications for the spring semester will be accepted beginning in December 2002. Participants pay no fees, unless university credit is desired. Interested applicants can learn more about the program by visiting http://21cif.imsa.edu/learn.

Located in Aurora, Illinois, IMSA is an internationally-recognized pioneering educational institution created by the State to develop talent and stimulate excellence in teaching and learning in mathematics, science and technology. IMSA's advanced residential college preparatory program enrolls 650 academically talented Illinois students in grades 10-12. More than 14,000 teachers and 20,000 students in Illinois and beyond have benefited from IMSA's professional development and enrichment programs. IMSA serves the people of Illinois through innovative instructional programs, public and private partnerships, policy leadership and action research.

 

Participating Schools

City

School

District

Benton

Benton Consolidated High School

Benton Consolidated High School #103

Buffalo Grove

Meridian Middle School

Aptakisic Tripp School District #102

Burbank

Reavis High School

School District #220

Byron

Byron Middle School

Byron CUSD 226

Chicago

Arthur A. Libby Elementary

Chicago School District #299

Chicago

Andersen Elementary Community Academy

Chicago School District #2060

Chicago

Charles H. Wacker

Chicago School District #299

Chicago

Carver Military Academy Hs

Chicago School District #299

Chicago

CPS Department of Libraries and Information Services

Chicago School District #299

Chicago

Falconer Elementary  School

Region 1

Chicago

Francis Parker Community Academy

Chicago School District #299

Chicago

Marquette Elementary School

Chicago School District #299

Chicago

Orozco Academy

Chicago School District #299

Chicago

Providence-St. Mel School

Private School

Decatur

Eisenhower High School

School District #61

Elmhurst

York Community High School

Elmhurst School District #205

Glen Ellyn

Glenbard West High School

School District #87

Gurnee

Warren Township High School

School District #121

Hinsdale

Hinsdale Middle School

School District #181

Itasca

F. E. Peacock Middle School

Itasca School District #10

Lake Forest

Deerpath Middle School

Lake Forest District #67

Lindenwood

Eswood

Eswood C.C. Grade School District #269

Niles

Gemini Junior High

East Maine School District #63

Northfield

New Trier High School

New Trier Township District #203

O'Fallon

O'Fallon Township High School

School District #203

Plainfield

Troy Middle School

Troy Community Consolidated School District #30C

Prophetstown

Prophetstown High School and PLT CUSD #3

Prophetstown-Lyndon-Tampico Unit #3

Richmond

Nippersink Middle School

Nippersink School District #2

Villa Park

Jackson Middle School

School District #45, DuPage County

Villa Park

Jefferson Middle School

School District #45, DuPage County