Vance County Schools has been awarded a $50,000 Emerging Technology grant which it plans to use to provide students with a simulator to program robots, including virtual drones.
The local school district was among 12 across the state to get the grant, which is part of the state’s Digital Learning Initiative, designed to promote effective digital learning practices across the state’s K-12 public schools.
Granville County Public Schools also got $50,000 to create a mobile podcasting studio for students, school employees and community use.
These one-year grants allow districts to use technology and develop more innovative practices within their schools.
State Superintendent of Public Instruction Catherine Truitt said the grants are key to helping North Carolina’s students be better prepared to compete for high-wage, high-demand careers while supporting districts in their effort to adopt new technologies and methods for teaching.
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“These grants are such a critical way we continue providing digital teaching, learning supports, and resources for North Carolina’s districts, educators, and students,” Truitt said. “I commend these districts for their support of digital innovation and desire to incorporate technology into the classroom. These grants will make a difference in the way we equip our students for the rapidly changing, technologically driven world that they will soon enter.”
Dr. Vanessa Wrenn, chief information officer for the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, echoed how these grants positively impact a student’s learning experience and better prepare them for the world ahead.
“Technology continues to play a significant role in shaping successful outcomes for students, especially as the workforce continues to be increasingly digitally driven,” Wrenn said. “It is important for students to be well versed in the latest technologies. We continue to be impressed by these schools’ innovation with their grant proposals and how the funds are used to transform student’s educational experience.”