NB 731
June 8, 2007
FREDERICTON (CNB) - A $1,000 contribution has been made to the Innovative Learning Fund by Pravin Varma, a professor in the physics department at Mount Allison University.
This is the first private contribution to be made to the Innovative Learning Fund, which was announced as part of the government's plan for public education, When Kids Come First , released on June 5.
The purpose of the Innovative Learning Fund is to invest in innovative projects led by teachers and school teams that can be shared and replicated.
"We must find opportunities for our teachers and our schools to be creative, innovative and entrepreneurial in their approaches to meet the learning needs of our kids," Education Minister Kelly Lamrock said. "The contribution made by Mr. Varma is an excellent example of how the community and private sector can help in our goal to build the best education system in the country. This donation is truly appreciated, and I wish to thank him for his generous contribution in support of the Innovative Learning Fund."
"To develop an excellent dynamic education system for times that are becoming progressively more and more globally competitive we must inculcate and support a value system of innovative learning," Varma said. "The Innovative Learning Fund that is being established will provide our teachers the much-needed support funds they could access to develop projects that will make learning experiential, exciting, innovative and relevant for our children. I am very excited that the Government of New Brunswick is starting this fund, and am delighted to be able to be the first of the many contributors who will help the fund grow and provide immense benefits for all of our children."
Varma made the contribution to Lamrock and Justice and Consumer Affairs Minister T.J. Burke during a visit to Park Street Elementary School in Fredericton, where an innovative school-wide research project was launched that will examine the impact of utilizing interactive technology on student learning.
This $142,000 research project is a partnership between Park Street Elementary School, the Department of Education, Smart Technologies, University of New Brunswick Health and Education Research Group, and School District 18. The Department of Education (anglophone sector) is investing $50,000 into the project.
The objective is to examine trends toward change in teacher practices and student engagement and focus on outcomes for students with exceptionalities who are exposed to technology integration in the classroom. The research project will be undertaken during the 2007-2008 school year.
"The teachers and parents associated with Park Street Elementary School are to be commended for embarking on this innovative project," Burke said. "Allowing our teachers and schools to be innovative is essential in helping us achieve self-sufficiency for our province by 2026."
A call for proposals will be issued in mid-August to teachers and schools to apply for funding under the Innovative Learning Fund.
"Innovative projects like the one at Park Street Elementary School are one of many being initiated by teachers and schools all across the province," Lamrock said. "Through the Innovative Learning Fund, money will be put directly into the hands of teachers and schools so they can create new and exciting learning environments for our kids."
07/06/08
MEDIA CONTACTS: Angélique Binet or Jason Humphrey, communications, Education, 506-444-4714.
07/06/08
