Ball State's Electronic Field Trip programs, which allow schoolchildren to visit national parks and museums and interact with experts, have been recognized as recipient of a 2007 TechPoint Mira Award.
The EFT programs won the award in the category of "Education Contribution for Technology-Department/Program/Team" and beat out finalists from Purdue University and Rose-Hulman Ventures.
"The TechPoint Mira Award gives us the recognition that we are doing something effective," Brandon Smith, scriptwriter and director for the EFT programs, said. "More schools are going to hear about EFT, and that's what we want. We are here for the kids."
The TechPoint Mira Award honors Indiana's most innovative and successful technology-driven organizations.
"I think this award helps people understand the importance of this program and how technology is used to deliver museum content," EFT Director Mark Kornmann said. "This is a great honor for the EFT program and Ball State University."
The EFT programs are made possible by partnerships between Ball State and museums and national parks across the country. Some of the partnerships already established are with The National Park Foundation, The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, and NASA.
Although there are some programs similar to EFT, others don't have the unique aspects Ball State's programs do, Kelly Huan, registration coordinator for EFT, said. The field trip package includes "Webisodes," a Web site, a live TV show and a lesson plan.
"We are innovative and always finding the horizon and going past it," Huan said.
Kornmann said he thinks the use of cutting-edge technology in the EFT's impressed the judges and gave them an edge over the other contestants.
There are hundreds of schools registered for EFT programs, which include thousands of classrooms in all 50 states, Smith said.
"[The programs] work into the school's curriculum, so it's really easy for schools to participate in them," Smith said.
Usually, the programs are directed toward middle school classrooms, but a K-5 EFT will be produced for the 2007-08 Academic Year as a response from teacher requests, according to Haun. The lesson plans will cover math, ecosystems, geography, civil rights, science, art and writing, among others.
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