The Education Connection Project

About The Project

WHYY is proud to be associated with Public Broadcast Organizations in Maryland, Virginia, Louisiana and Mississippi in a 5-year $5.5 million 1996 U.S. Department of Education Technology Innovation Challenge Grant. Each member of the collaborative is focusing on the use of technology in K-12 education at different grade levels and in different ways. 

The local Project in Delaware and Philadelphia is called the Education Connection Project and receives additional funding from The City of Wilmington, and Seaford School District in Delaware. The idea is to use the school and service learning as a focal point through which technology and educational services can be delivered inexpensively while improving student performance.  

Every year, students receive a multimedia computer composed of new and donated parts to take home that includes Microsoft Office along with Internet access from DCANet. The donated computers will be acquired this year by Goodwill Industries and will built and supported in collaboration with the School District of Philadelphia’s TECHCORPS Urban Technology Project, Delaware’s Americorps KickStart Project, and area high school students on paid internships.  

Throughout the year, the teachers meet regularly through the University of Delaware’s Mathematics and Science Education Resource Center in the development of standards-based classroom, computer, and online activities. Integral to this activity is WHYY’s Electric Schoolhouse and the Delaware Law Related Education Center.  

At the end of every year, families have the opportunity to purchase their computer at a discounted price thus distributing the technology into the community while lowering the cost of the project to the school. By investigating many low-cost alternatives, the Education Connection Project is producing an affordable method of enhancing students achievement through the use of technology in the home and in the school.  

Next year will be the 5th and final year of this project. It is the intention of the Education Connection Project to begin to provide a roadmap of how others can use technology to enhance education and connect their community. For more information, Jay Cohen, WHYY Director of Educational Technology can be reached at 302-888-1200 or email him at jcohen@whyy.org

Page last updated on 08/13/00

Send comments to the Education Connection Project Director, Jay Cohen

Table of Contents

Title Page

About the project

Low-Cost Home Technology

Workforce Dev. Technology Support

Standards-Based Content

Administration & Partnership

Project Links
   Calendar (in development)
   Tech-Support (in development)
   National Project
   Project Materials (in development)
   Student Pages (in development)