Success Stories from 2006

Each year the Techmobile Instructor identifies students and sites that have taken full advantage of the mobile computer lab and highlights the gains in these short summaries.

A Brand New Lab

The TECHMOBILE and the MATRIX facilitate migrant student learning via technology throughout Montana. As a part of the Montana Migrant Education Technology Plan, the MATRIX lab was purchased in 2004-05 to improve access to computer services, increase the reach of technology services, and increase the duration of those services. In addition, the labs provide services to students in non-project areas who would otherwise not be able to receive services.

The MATRIX, which has a larger instructional area than the TECHMOBILE, provides the latest wireless and interactive technologies. Average instructional time with students has increased by 100% (from 2½ hours per week to 5 hours per week) due to the increased area and the larger number of students who can be served at one time.

Both labs are mobile computer facilities staffed by specially-trained instructors to offer the latest technology-based educational courses in a self-paced, interactive learning environment. Through the mobile labs, students participated in hands-on learning; strengthened their skills in the content areas; and learned about computers, multimedia, and telecommunications technologies. The instructional design of the program was project-based with students exploring their environment and community through computer-facilitated activities. Activities to implement the TECHMOBILE and MATRIX follow.

• After the TECHMOBILE and MATRIX arrive in each summer MEP, pre-test students to gather baseline data.
• Provide hands-on learning of curriculum in the content areas and teach students about computers, multimedia, and telecommunications technologies.
• Use scientifically-based researched methods and best practices to help students increase their knowledge of technology.
• Post-test the students to determine the extent to which instruction helped students improve their technology-related skills prior to the labs departing each summer MEP.

During the regular school year, four students participated in the Montana Laptop Loan Project where students used old laptops for homework while in the Billings, Huntley, and Hysham areas. Parents and students involved in the program learned about Internet safety and proper care of the equipment.

During 2005-06, the MATRIX and/or TECHMOBILE visited all of the migrant education programs during the summer months providing services to 546 migrant students. Visits ranged from four days (Dillon) to 10 days (Polson and Sidney) and provided students with a total of 44 days of instruction from June 2 to July 30, 2006. The largest number of students were served in Polson (40% of all students served) and Missoula (24% of all students served).

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