Mines one of 44 colleges nationwide selected for HP technology grant

$68,000 grant includes HP wireless equipment and faculty stipend to improve student achievement

GOLDEN, Colo., May 28, 2008 – Colorado School of Mineswas selected as one of 44 two- and four-year colleges and universities in the United States and Puerto Rico to receive a 2008 HP Technology for Teaching grant, which is designed to transform teaching and improve learning in the classroom through innovative uses of technology.

During the 2008-2009 academic year, HP Technology for Teaching grant projects will impact more than 6,000 higher education students. Mines will receive an award package of HP products and a faculty stipend valued at more than $77,000.

Each of the HP Technology for Teaching grant recipients will use HP wireless Tablet PCs to enhance learning in engineering, math, science or computer science.

Mines has developed a web-based tool called InkSurvey that uses digital ink technology to simulate a teacher and student using a blackboard in one-on-one dialogue.

“It is designed specifically for real-time formative assessment in the classroom using Tablet PCs and has been tested in classes with enrollments exceeding 60 students,” said Frank Kowalski, Mines physics professor.

“Students use the tablet computer to actively construct and transmit their responses in words, graphs, diagrams and equations. Such responses clearly reveal student thinking,” Kowalski added.

The real-time formative assessment allows the instructor to monitor student understanding and misconceptions and respond accordingly. The method also facilitates differentiated learning to better meet the needs of the individual student.

In 2008, HP is awarding 172 K-12 public schools and two- and four-year colleges and universities in the United States and Puerto Rico more than $7 million in mobile technology, cash and professional development as part of its 2008 HP Technology for Teaching grant program. Since 2004, HP has contributed a total of $36 million in HP Technology for Teaching grants to more than 650 schools worldwide. During the past 20 years, HP has contributed more than $1 billion in cash and equipment to schools, universities, community organizations and other nonprofit organizations around the world.

“HP empowers students and teachers to succeed through innovative uses of technology and training,” said Sidney Espinosa, director, Philanthropy Program, HP. “We invest in schools to increase educational attainment and contribute to the development of a skilled, diverse workforce in the future.”

More information about the 2008 HP Technology for Teaching program and grant recipients is available at www.hp.com/go/hpteach.