UM, Missoula Schools to Showcase Innovative Partnership
MISSOULA – The University of Montana and Missoula County Public Schools have embarked on a groundbreaking collaboration called SHAPE P20 to transform the relationship among classrooms, schools and student experiences across the education continuum – with the potential to shape the future of public education in the United States.
Faculty and staff from UM, the Montana Digital Academy and MCPS will gather Thursday, May 8, in UM’s Phyllis J. Washington Education Center to present new and innovative blended-learning project models to invited guests from the Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation, the University and Missoula public schools.
“What a privilege to bring together exemplary K-12 teachers, University professors and academic administrators from both sides to refine and create leading-edge approaches to learning,” said Roberta Evans, dean of UM’s education college. “It is exactly this shoulder-to-shoulder learning that excites education professionals and fosters true change in school systems and universities.”
Blended learning, the combining of Web-based educational technology with highly effective face-to-face instruction of students, is the basis for a new graduate level course created by the Montana Digital Academy as a part of the SHAPE P20 project, said Robert Currie, executive director of the academy.
The course, Montana Online Blended Learning for K-12 Educators, otherwise known as MOBL K-12, was developed by Ryan Schrenk, MTDA project manager, and introduced teams of MCPS teachers and administrators to several different models of blended learning.
“I’m pleased to see the innovative blended-learning projects developed by Missoula County Public School teachers move from creative ideas in January to concrete proposals today that will be implemented by the district next fall,” Schrenk said.
“MTDA provides online courses to thousands of students across the state each year, and we have been looking for a way to introduce blended learning as an option for schools,” Schrenk said. “Once again, Washington Foundation support and the leadership of Dean Roberta Evans gave us the opportunity to be a part of the innovative SHAPE P20 project.”
The MCPS team focused on researching and planning projects that later will be implemented in elementary, middle or high school classrooms in Missoula.
“Missoula County Public Schools is proud to have more than 40 innovative educators participating in this class,” said Hatton Littman, MCPS director of technology and communication for Missoula County Public Schools. “Professional development opportunities like this demonstrate our investment in high-quality teaching staff and always enable teachers to bring new projects and ideas back into their classrooms.”
Littman said MCPS continues to make progress on a district goal to transform the learning environment and personalize professional growth through professional development opportunities like this one.
“We value our partnerships with the University of Montana and the Washington Foundation,” she said, “which make realizing our goals possible.”
For more information on SHAPE P20 and its blended-learning component, visit online or call 406-243-4911.
Montana Statewide Business Alliance Aims to Grow High-Tech and Manufacturing Jobs
MISSOULA - A consortium of Montana’s leading employers announced a new initiative to establish the Montana High Tech Business Alliance, a membership organization focused on creating more high-tech jobs in Montana. The founding group of about 20 firms has all contributed financially in order to establish the Alliance and hire a full time executive director to manage the statewide effort.
Founding Alliance Members include (* indicates Alliance board member):
· Advanced Technology Group, Tom Stergios, Missoula
· Blackfoot Telecommunications Group, Bill Squires, Missoula
· UM School of Business Administration, Larry Gianchetta, Missoula
The Montana High Tech Business Alliance will represent the interests of its members in pursuit of its mission to accelerate the growth, global competitiveness and national visibility of Montana’s high-tech industry. Initial projects include a web-based Montana high-tech jobs portal to assist members with employee recruiting and to help Montanans find jobs with Alliance member firms. The group is also planning networking events and will spotlight the successes of member firms within the state.
The group hopes all Montana high-tech and manufacturing firms will become members. Full membership in the Alliance is available to for-profit firms engaged in high-tech that have operations in Montana. High-tech is defined as firms that make or sell high-tech products, provide professional services or consulting related to high-tech, conduct e-commerce, or engage in manufacturing using skilled labor. Early-stage high-tech firms with one to four employees may join as full members free of charge. Affiliate memberships are available to other firms that want to support the efforts of the Alliance.
“Montana has some amazing high-tech firms, yet because most of their customers aren’t in Montana and high-tech firms aren’t located on Main Street, their economic impact is not fully recognized or understood,” said Greg Gianforte, organizer of the new Alliance and initial Board Chairman. “Montana high-tech jobs are the best opportunity to increase wages in Montana because high-tech makes the economic pie bigger for everyone and every community can participate.”
The Alliance is planning a kick-off reception in early June at the home of Greg Gianforte in Bozeman. All Montana firms that become members prior to the kick-off event will be considered founding members of the Alliance and will be invited to the reception.
The Montana High Tech Business Alliance has hired Christina Quick Henderson as the organization’s executive director.
Prior to joining the Alliance, Henderson served as marketing director for the University of Montana Bureau of Business and Economic Research since 2011, coordinating the Montana Economic Outlook Seminars. She was previously director of the Delta County Economic Development Alliance in Michigan.
“Too often the incredible growth and innovation of Montana’s high-tech companies is a well-kept secret,” said Henderson. “I am excited to connect our members, shine a bright light on their successes, and help remove obstacles to their growth.”
The Montana High Tech Business Alliance is actively recruiting additional founding members from across the state. Principals of high-tech companies with headquarters or operations in Montana are encouraged to contact Henderson regarding membership at [email protected] . Organizations that are not in the high-tech industry such as law firms, banks, or economic development agencies may join as affiliate members. The Montana High Tech Business Alliance office is at MonTEC, 1121 East Broadway, Suite 108 in Missoula.
