PHS Math Department Awarded Grant

Submitted by kate.searle on

On Oct. 7, 2015, the Nebo Education Foundation awarded Payson High School Math Department a grant for $1,113 for new calculators in their classrooms.  The math department stated in their grant:

The purpose of this grant is to provide a classroom set of calculators to seven regular education math teachers and two special education math teachers.  Classroom sets of calculators will allow students to work through basic questions (known as DOK Level 1 and 2) more efficiently, allowing more class time to be spent discussing deeper questions (DOK Level 3 and 4). In the past, we have attempted to use cellphones to fit this need, however, the extra distractions that accompany cellphones has severely hampered educational pursuits in the classroom.  With a classroom set of calculators, cellphones could then become an educational tool that the teacher can use occasionally as opposed to every day.  As an added benefit, a recent study by the London School of Economics found that schools that restrict cellphone usage see a positive impact in test scores (6% of a standard deviation).  This impact is even more prevalent among low-achieving students (14% of a standard deviation), which is the target audience of this grant1.  While the overarching purpose of a classroom set of calculators is to allow teachers the ability to spend more time on deeper questions, the restriction of cellphones in the classroom is also an educational benefit. 

This grant will not only benefit the students at PHS but also strengthens the relationship between the school and the Nebo Education Foundation. The Nebo Education Foundation is a non-profit organization that receives donations from businesses and individuals throughout the community to improve learning conditions within Nebo School District.  These donors often receive no public recognition but are a vital to the success of the foundation and the schools.  Payson High hopes to continue strengthening their relationship with the foundation to benefit the students at Payson High as new technology and resources become available that will enrich student learning.

 

Pictured: K.L. Tischner, Justin Meyers, Brian Rowley, Whitnie Whitbeck, Tona Graff, Jamilah McMurdie, and Jamie Stanton.  Not pictured Amy Fox.

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