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Education initiative promotes hands-on learning

Jaime Lakin / WRBL
October 18, 2006

Educators say making everyday lessons a hands-on learning experience is key to keeping students engaged in the learning process. Now, a new program coming to east Alabama will bring that philosophy into area classrooms.

On Wednesday, state and local leaders and educators gathered at J.F. Drake Middle school in Auburn to celebrate the launch of the Alabama Math, Science and Technology Initiative (AMSTI) in east Alabama.

The initiative itself was implemented in the state several years ago. But a new appropriation of $831,000, announced Wednesday by Alabama Superintendent of Education Dr. Joe Morton and Auburn University President Dr. Ed Richardson, will expand the program into east Alabama through an AMSTI site at Auburn University.

The initiative promotes hands-on instruction of math, science and technology applications with kits customized for subject-specific activities.

"What we’ve done is identify the specific kits that match up with what Alabama teachers are supposed to be teaching in the classrooms," said AMSTI State Coordinator Steve Ricks. "And when the teachers use these kits the students are fully engaged in the hands-on activities, and because of that they learn what they’re supposed to be learning."

With the addition of the new initiative site at Auburn University, east Alabama schools join the ranks of about 200 public schools involved in the program statewide.

"All the teachers are very excited about the new endeavors and the training that they’re going to incur and the supplies they are going to be provided," said Debbie Beebe, Drake Middle School principal. "The modes of teaching that AMSTI brings are just phenomenal for children and children’s learning and we’re very excited to have them in our area."

The AU AMSTI site will serve 11 school systems: Alexander City, Auburn, Chambers County, Elmore County, Lanett, Lee County, Macon County, Opelika, Russell County, Tallapoosa County and Tallassee.

To find out more about AMSTI, visit www.amsti.org.