Emints Stands for Enhancing Missouri's

EMINTS stands for enhancing Missouri's Instructional Networked Teaching Strategies. The program began in Louis County, Missouri and has since expanded internationally. eMINTS has its roots in a predecessor program called the Missouri Research and Education Network (MOREnet). Between 1997 and 1999, MOREnet created the Multimedia Interactive Networked Technologies (MINTs) project. MINTs proved to be such a success that in 1999, the Missouri Commissioner of Education encouraged a statewide program based on it. Thus, eMINTS was created. Like MINTs before it, eMINTS changes the way schools and classrooms implement technology.

Technology is not just used as an end in itself but as a means to achieve academic and broader social goals. Both teachers and students benefit from eMINTS. In fact, eMINTS runs special professional development programs for educators. The ultimate purpose of eMINTS is to "transform education," according to the Web site. Transforming education means arming teachers with the tools and skills they need to create a constructive learning environment. eMINTS Teachers work with mentors called Cluster Instructional Specialists (CIS).

The CIS offers consultation and guidance that is specific to individual teachers and their learning environments. A CIS can also help teachers take advantage of their school's existing technology resources. eMINTS requires technology to work, and all participating classrooms enjoy Internet connections and a low student to computer ration: one computer per every two students. The Internet is a hub of learning in an eMINTS classroom. Other technological tools such as interactive white boards help teachers and students communicate and interact.

Technology is focused on classroom needs and extraneous hardware and software is minimized. Teachers participating in the eMINTS program learn how to use existing technologies to meet their educational objectives. The eMINTS learning environment led to measurable results such as improved student test scores in Missouri. Because of that, the program spread to other states and is being launched in Australia as well. As of 2005-2006, the eMINTS demographics included 232 Missouri school districts, 10 districts in Utah, 56 in Maine, 2 in Nevada, and one each in Illinois and Arkansas.

In total more than 1250 classrooms and 22500 students have benefited from eMINTS, and the program continues to expand. Both the professional development and classroom development aspects of eMINTS are growing. In some respects, an eMINTS classroom is not different from a traditional teacher-driven classroom. Helping each student reach his or her highest potential remains the central goal, and the teacher is there to facilitate learning and growth. However, in an eMINTS classroom technology is used to create opportunities for cooperative as well as independent learning.

Technology becomes relevant to every subject and lesson, as it aids communication, creativity, and critical thinking. Teaching strategies in an.