Five pilot activities have been selected for testing and development in this first phase:
During this Beta phase working materials will be available in English language versions only; indeed one of the objectives is to determine what exactly it will be most useful to translate into Basque, and eventually into Spanish. This point needs to be stressed since, to the extent that this is a world project, the main language for the international exchanges is English.
The first step in preparing this project is an interview with the school’s directors in order to determine both their interest and suitability for participation at this test stage. For the coming year the requirement of a certain level of English language capability is important, as well as the availability of properly set-up computers and supporting telecommunications lines. Most important, however, will be the attitudes, enthusiasm and competence of those administrators and teachers who will be taking leading roles in the program, and of course the interest and desire for participation on the part of the students.
Because this is a Beta Test and because it involves working with a certain number of concepts that are not yet familiar in many schools, this first process of self-selection is a very important one. This is a pioneering process which calls for commitment, energy and versatility. (In this respect it is the exact opposite of what is sometimes called "edu-tainment".)
Whether or not the school decides to go ahead with participation in the Beta Test phase, it is hoped that all who contact us will take the time to carry out the preparatory School Audit, as briefly described below. The audit, which is self-administered following detailed guidelines which we share with the school, looks at the equipment base, the supporting materials, the human resources, and the attitudes and opportunities that experience has shown are important qualities if such a project is to succeed. The results of the Audits will be useful for the first State of the Basque Nation Information Society Report. (This report is intended to be revised and updated dated annually, and will be made freely available in both print and electronic each forms.)
In addition to this introductory dossier, a number of working papers and supporting materials are available in English from the Einstein group. In due course, key working papers and materials will be available in the Basque Language.
The flagship program for Einstein in the first stages of the Basque pilot program is the Global Lab Curriculum. Einstein supports the mechanics of the actual school implementation in each case with a cycle of seven planning and review meetings with each school team over the year (introduction-exposition, planning session, audit review, 3 progress reviews, and a final all-partners plenary session upon conclusion of the Beta Test in June 1997).
In addition to the audit results, participating school teams will be asked to provide several short written reports (an initial statement of objectives, mid-year and end-of year progress report, and recommendations for 1997/97). Each school team is asked to solicit reactions and suggestions not only from those students and teachers directly involved, but from parents, other teachers who may be interested (or opposed), the teacher’s labor unions, local government, and of course the concerned Basque educational agencies.
At the time of the final plenary meeting, each school will be asked to present their short report on results plus their recommendations both for their own school program and for the overall Basque program more generally, including to other institutions, groups and agencies who may have useful roles to play in the future.
Participation in the Beta Test program is free, though schools are asked if possible to make a contribution to program costs. These are set at $2,400/class, half of which goes to the TERC partners in Cambridge US, while the remainder is used to fund local costs. This low fee level is possible because of extensive financing by the National Science Foundation over the last years of the program’s build up, and because Einstein is currently organizing in an attempt to get support from other agencies and institutions to cover the local cost component. No school will be denied an opportunity to participate in the Beta Test phase for financial reasons. In such cases no charge will apply, and the school will benefit from all advantages and opportunities the program provides.
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