PROGRAM OVERVIEW
"Empowering Science Education through Technology" (E-SET) is a virtual science community based on an innovative online and field study learning program. E-SET seamlessly integrates technology into science education by means of an interdisciplinary online curriculum, collaboration, and inquiry/project based activities centered on Texas' rivers, coastlines, and geologic features. Through innovative conferences, seminars, and online workshops with leading science education professionals, teachers, principals, and administrators will have access to ongoing, sustained professional development to further the use of technology in the classroom. Using the technologies and equipment provided by the grant, students and teachers have the opportunity to attain higher-level thinking skills by analyzing water data, conducting relevant research, and collaborating on findings with schools across the state. E-SET leverages award-winning programs such as Cyberways and Waterways (CW) as well as the University of Texas, Austin, Institute for Geophysics National Science Foundation (NSF) programs.

THE OPPORTUNITY
E-SET integrates the best practices of proven, research-based inquiry and project-based studies, centered on the geosciences and crucial, relevant issues impacting all Texans - water. The program provides an overall learning environment and process that promotes teacher competency in technology applications, improves student achievement and attitudes towards learning, and represents an effective model for innovative applications of technology. Teachers and curricula/technical coordinators will work together to implement effective E-SET geoscience curricula modules that are research-based and fully aligned to the TEKS. They will collaborate with other teachers and schools on best practices relative to the integration of technology. E-SET is also designed to promote community and parental involvement in the learning process.

COMMUNICATION/COLLABORATION
The E-SET online community will be hosted on the 4empowerment website. The e-learning website provides students and teachers with their own personal project management area to upload data, create projects and reports, record their observations, and collaborate with other schools across the state through private discussion boards. Once published, their projects and reports are then publicly viewable online, allowing them to share their research with the community. Students can research a database of information through the innovative online mapping of Texas' rivers, creeks, and coastlines. Online chat rooms will allow students and teachers to communicate with peers, mentors, and science industry professionals around the world.
TECHNOLOGY TRAINING
Effective professional development activities for this grant are ongoing, school-based, and organized around collaborative problem solving. E-SET proposes a multi-level professional development component that maintains flexibility for individual teachers through both online and offline workshops. The proposed objectives, strategies, and goals of E-SET are in line with member districts' long-range technology plans in providing sustained professional development, promoting equity to support State content standards, and developing new applications of technology to support the school reform effort in order to impact student academic achievement.

This text coutesy of 4-empowerment.com