Robots are brining more learning opportunities to rural schools in Kansas, thanks to TWO national grants recently awarded to the Rural Education Center in the Kansas State University College of Education.
Combined, the two grants support 29 schools in 18 districts with a total of 118 Double Robotics robots and 23 Ohmni robots.
THE INITIAL GRANT:
The U.S. Department of Agriculture recently announced that the center would receive a $146,031 Teaching Rural Students STEM Through Telepresence grant designed to create a distance learning network to benefit rural schools, with emphasis on science, technology, engineering and math. Participating schools will be Ashland High School, USD 220; Clay Center High School, USD 379; Dighton High School, USD 482; Haviland K-8, USD 474; Lakin High School, USD 215; Liberal High School, USD 480; Skyline High School, USD 438; and Bennington High School and Tescott High School, both in USD 240.
“We recognize the tremendous potential that exists in our rural students and are excited to take the lead in infusing our district partners with this innovative approach to STEM education,” said Debbie Mercer, dean of the College of Education.
The telepresence grant is part of the USDA’s $42.5 million investment (https://www.rd.usda.gov/newsroom/news-release/create-news-release-21) in 133 distance learning and telemedicine projects in 37 states and two U.S. territories. The USDA will provide the funding through the Distance Learning and Telemedicine grant program (https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/distance-learning-telemedicine- grants). These investments will benefit 5.4 million rural residents. In Kansas, the grant is expected to serve 2,360 rural students and 37,964 residents in rural communities.
The funds — used solely on equipment for the schools — purchased 36 Double Robotics robots, which allow educators to teach and interact with their students who are at a different location. The schools also receive Apple iPads and laptops, as well as other equipment necessary for the project.
“This grant will allow us to provide more STEM opportunities for student learning and teacher professional learning,” said Spencer Clark, K-State associate professor of curriculum and instruction and director of the Rural Education Center. “We believe it could also possibly help address teacher vacancies in rural schools.”
Jamie Wetig, superintendent of the Ashland Public Schools, said teacher supply is always an issue in rural schools and this partnership may impact what classes his schools can offer students.
“In an evermore challenging environment to recruit and retain highly qualified teachers, the ability to provide educational opportunities in a small and rural school may sometimes be limited,” Wetig said. “By partnering with the Rural Education Center at Kansas State University, Ashland Public Schools will have the opportunity to work on the forefront in redesigning education from delivery to enhancing the curriculum. We look forward to expanding the opportunities afforded to USD 220 through the USDA telepresence grant and know this is just the beginning of using an innovative approach to support our students and our community.”
THE SECOND GRANT:
The REC followed that first grant by receiving its largest grant in history: a telemedicine grant to support STEM education in rural and underserved communities.
The $451,480 Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grant is being administered by the Rural Utilities Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. It supports the center’s Rural Enhancement of STEM Education through Tele-Presence, or RESET, program and purchased robots, microphones and laptops for the 20 schools in 10 Kansas school districts involved in the project. No funds were used to support personnel salaries.
Kansas schools participating in the grant are Andale High School, Andale; Axtell High School, Axtell; Cheylin High School, Bird City; Buhler High School and Prairie Hills Middle School, both in Buhler; Garden Plain High School, Garden Plain; Jackson Heights High School, Holton; F.L. Schlagle High School, J.C. Harmon High School, Sumner Academy, Washington High School and Wyandotte High School, all in Kansas City; Blue Stem High School, Leon; Ness City High School, Ness City; Osage City High School and Osage City Middle School, Osage City; Sabetha High School and Sabetha Middle School, Sabetha; Troy High School, Troy; and Wetmore High School, Wetmore.
Project RESET acquired tele-presence equipment necessary to support STEM education learning experiences in rural schools, with the Rural Education Center serving as the hub site for providing training, curriculum, instructors and additional resources to aid its partner rural schools.
Mercer said this grant addresses a critical need in schools across Kansas — one that came into sharp focus with the emergence of COVID-19.
“This is a phenomenal example of how College of Education faculty are positively impacting some of the most complex and labyrinth-like issues in our profession,” Mercer said. “This initiative addresses two at the top of the list: finding STEM teachers and providing schools with technology that levels the playing field for rural schools or those in underserved or low socio-economic communities.”
“This grant is an important part of our vision to create a rural distance learning network across the state,” Clark said. “It is another step toward creating more equitable access to educational opportunities for rural students.”
For Goodson, it’s both professional and personal.
“It’s exciting to see the Rural Education Center providing support for our rural education partners,” Goodson said. “As a product of a small rural school in northwest Missouri, I know the value of those small districts, and I’m glad to be a part of this effort.”