Release Date: Mar 22, 2006 1:00 AM  

Learning Delaware Designed to Raise Teacher Knowledge, Student Success

Wilmington, Del.–March 22, 2006WHYY, the leading public broadcast station in Delaware, is partnering with the Delaware Department of Educationand the Delaware Center for Educational Technology to create eLearning Delaware,a Web-based professional development resource for educators in the First State.eLearning Delaware will provide effective professional development to expand upon teachers’ content knowledge;improve statewide teacher quality and current teaching practices; and increase student achievement.

eLearning Delaware is Delaware’s implementation of the e-Learning for Educators initiative,a project funded through a U.S. Department of Education ‘Ready To Teach’ grant.The $22 million, five-year grant was awarded to nine state education agenciesand associate public broadcast stations.

“WHYY is proud to join in this important initiative, which will serve to enhance theeducational opportunities for teachers, and the tens of thousands of students they serve,”said Susan Poglinco, Executive Director of WHYY’s Children’s Service.

The mission of eLearning Delaware is to provide a successful, sustainable programto address statewide teacher quality needs by using Internet-based professional development courses,regardless of their location or their school-year schedule.

“I appreciate the enthusiasm and commitment of WHYY in this initiative,” said Delaware’s Secretary of EducationValerie A. Woodruff. “This is an exciting partnership that will further support our teachers.”

Through eLearning Delaware, secondary education teachers will be able to receive professional developmentvia online courses, designed to meet high-priority needs for Delaware educators,with a particular emphasis on teachers from eligible at-risk schools and districts.Education professionals also have the opportunity to serve as facilitators for eLearning Delaware courses.

eLearning Delaware courses cover such disciplines as developing Web-enhanced lessons;accommodating instruction to different learning styles; using technology to support research;and designing virtual fieldtrips. Courses are expressly designed to benefit teachers of grades 6 through 12in accordance with Delaware’s recommended state education curriculum, but are open to all educators in the First State.

For more information about facilitating or enrolling in a course, contact eLearning Delaware at elearning@dcet.k12.de.us or visit www.dcet.k12.de.us/elearning.

WHYY is what a diverse community has in common. WHYY, through television, radio and other communications services,makes our region a better place, connecting each of us to the world’s richest ideasand all of us to each other.

The Delaware Center for Educational Technology has a vision to help Delaware becomeThe First State in Education: Every Classroom, Every Teacher, Every Child,with a mission to help empower children through the use of information technologyto achieve higher standards in education.

The Delaware Department of Education is committed to promoting the highest quality educationfor every Delaware student by providing visionary leadership and superior service.

For further information, contact:
Anna Christopher
WHYY
(215) 351-2066
achristopher@whyy.org

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Delaware's Department of Education is committed to promoting the highest quality education for every Delaware student by providing visionary leadership and superior service.	Contact Info. Alison Kepner Delaware Department of Education 401 Federal Street, Suite #2 Dover, Delaware 19901 Phone: (302) 735-4035 Fax: (302) 739-4654 Email: akepner@doe.k12.de.us
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