Archive: Around Town

Ithaca Public Education Initiative (IPEI) announced funding for Computational Thinking and Digital Literacy in the Libraries, a Connecting Classrooms Grant supporting the Ithaca City School District's (ICSD) elementary schools and the ICSD Technology team. The goal of this grant is to allow ICSD teachers and media specialists time and equipment to create new learning experiences for every elementary student in the district focused on computational thinking and digital literacy.

Incorporating one-to-one technology is not the end but the beginning of a new methodology of thinking and learning. This grant funds the the ICSD librarians in a leadership role, in conjunction with the library as a hub of general information: creating space for student self-directed learning utilizing maker space and coding opportunities.

These spaces allow all students to engage with problem solving and use technology in hands-on activities during the school day.
Although information technology is woven into almost every aspect of learning and life, not every learner and educator has equitable access to up-to-date, appropriate technology and connectivity. An effective school library bridges digital and socioeconomic divides to affect information technology access and skill. -The American Association of School Libraries (Emphasis IPEI)

This Connecting Classrooms Grant continues the enhancement of ICSD's effective school libraries with funding from IPEI, by providing time and equipment for teachers and specialists to collaborate, create and roll out lessons for all elementary students in conjunction with current school practices and curriculum. The media specialists and teachers, with the support of ICSD's technology staff will determine the best tools for engaging ICSD students and create lessons which will be shared throughout the elementary schools.

"The lessons and materials generated by these teams will be shared throughout the district to inspire enhanced and engaging computational thinking and digital literacy experiences across the ICSD." -Dan Breiman, Belle Sherman Elementary principal

"IPEI's mission supports innovation within ICSD schools and classrooms and we are proud to see our teaching and media staff come together to ensure students in every ICSD school have access to utilize and learn with cutting-edge technology. These skills are the skills of the next generation workforce and should not be restricted to after school clubs or certain schools," says Steve Manley, Executive Director of IPEI.

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