Texas Capitol Schoolhouse Returns for 2011 Texas Legislature Session

Schools demonstrate learning in their high-tech classrooms

AUSTIN, Texas, Jan. 25, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- On Monday, January 31, 2011, the Texas Capitol Schoolhouse Foundation will facilitate actual high tech school classrooms in the Capitol Rotunda basement using state-of-the-art educational technology.  

"The participating schools clearly demonstrate their effective day-to-day use of educational technology. Visitors to the Capitol will see and experience technology currently in use by Texas classrooms," said Schoolhouse organizer and Executive Director Dr. Deborah Jolly.  Jolly is also the Deputy Director of Wexford Institute, a national research/evaluation and development non-profit agency.

"We bring the schools together to show our legislators the wonderful things their technology funding has done for Texas classrooms. Each time the event becomes more and more impressive as the technology use becomes more and more sophisticated," Jolly added.

At the beginning of each legislative session, invited schools set up their classrooms in the Capitol. Throughout the day, they conduct class just as they do every day in their home districts.  This year students, utilizing both PCs and Macs, will be working with video and sound editing, robotics, iPods, iPads, online virtual learning environments, one-to-one laptop computing, online interactive learning and other educational technologies.

Legislators and invited guests have the opportunity to venture through actual classrooms to observe and experience educational technology in use by teachers and students. "The students are eager to show their Representatives and Senators how these tools are used in the education process and how much they benefit from their use," Jolly concluded.

Participating districts include: Amarillo ISD, Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD, Irving ISD, Klein ISD, Manor ISD, Ysleta ISD, Floydada ISD, Coleman ISD, San Saba ISD, Pasadena ISD, and the Texas School for the Deaf.  Remote schools include Stockdale ISD, Alief ISD, Valley Mills ISD and Panhandle ISD. Corporate sponsors include Apple, Wexford Institute, NxVentures, Time Warner Cable, Texas Virtual Learning Network, AMD, Connections Academy and Virtual Drive Driver Education.

To experience the Texas Capitol Schoolhouse up close and personal, visit the Capitol Rotunda on January 31 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

SOURCE Wexford Institute