Foundation Grants Provide Technology Upgrades

Cutting-edge technology is the name of the game with today’s grant seekers. Over the last few grant cycles, The Piqua Community Foundation has been able to provide local organizations with hardware, software and accessories to make learning, teaching and presenting programs easy and effective.

Computers are high on the list of items requested. A 2010 grant to Piqua High School science teacher, Heath Butler, allowed for the purchase of two computers for classroom use. When added to four computers obtained with other funding, Butler now has the use of six machines for his classroom lab. Students use the computers to watch science videos, complete WebQuests and work through on-line labs. Using computers for research and inquiry-based learning helps students meet state and national requirements in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.

A computer and projector purchased with a Community Foundation grant have enabled the Johnston Farm and Indian Agency to add innovation and quality to their on-site and off-site presentations. Until recently, the Agency used a slide projector for their programming. The new equipment allows them to create, save and present a variety of programs ranging from the Pickawillany story to the Council of Piqua to the Miami and Erie Canal.

Piqua Parents as Teachers used last year’s mini-grant to provide a digital camera, memory card and printer used with 85 to 95 families each year. Parents as Teachers staff photograph activities and events, and can immediately print photos for the families involved. The photos give parents specific examples and visual reminders of the skills to use when parenting at home. The on-site printing saves time and money over traditional printing costs.

Science teacher, Joyce Thornberry, receive a mini-grant in 2010 to enable her students at Piqua Catholic School to create robots. The grant provided kits which the students used to combine the principles of simple machines into a compound machine (animal robot). Each student’s grade depended on completing a “working” robot, as lessons on decreasing friction and applying force were applied to the machine.

Gwen Stivers at Piqua High School has combined her Smart Board with a wireless slate and ELMO projector provided by The Piqua Community Foundation and other sources. Working together, the tools allow her to provide more in-depth instruction and individual help in biology classes.

Anyone who doubts the importance of new technology need only tune in to Piqua’s Channel 5. A major grant made this year to WOTVC by the Piqua Community Foundation allowed for the purchase of Leightronix hardware enabling the switch from analogue to digital broadcasting to be made. Great improvements in audio and video signals are obvious to 20,000 homes receiving the feed on local cable television.

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