Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- When can I join the SMART Partnership?
- A school can join the SMART Partnership at any time during the year as long as funding for participation has been secured. The term of membership is for one year with a commitment to participate for at least three years. The date that you join becomes your anniversary date for participation.
- Can a school have more than one business or community partner?
- Yes. Several schools have more than one partner. The function of a partner in the project is driven by the school and the problem based learning agenda. This is a separate issue from any funding partners.
- What are the technology requirements for participation in the SMART Partnership?
- The use of technology as a meaningful tool in the educational process is an integral part of the project methodology. However, there are no specific requirements or obligations of a school or business in the project. A variety of technologies (digital cameras, digital video, video conferencing, presentation software, the Internet, etc.) can and should be used by students and teachers to support and enhance the learning experience in SMART. The SMART Technology Committee has been created to examine the technology issues/needs of SMART Partners.
- Why should we join SMART as opposed to just establishing this type of partnership on our own?
- Although you are free to build partnerships on your own, there are several benefits to joining the SMART Partnership. Your membership in SMART provides support in finding partners; on-site consulting in problem based approaches and building lessons collaboratively with community partners; access to national, state and regional resources; access to the project web site, collaborativdatabase and other subscription modules; networking; grant/funding opportunities; ongoing project management; a voice in systems change initiatives; recognition for your school and partners.
- Is project management a necessary item in the SMART Partnership?
- Partnerships, particularly in education, are short lived because the individuals involved in forging the partnership are no longer interested, leave the school or business, etc. By maintaining project management, neither schools nor businesses are responsible for the coordination of the partnership. Thus, the chances for long term life of such a project are considerably enhanced.
- How can we justify this type of expenditure of time and money in light of current budget constraints and the requirements of No Child Left Behind or state accountability legislation?
- Factually, the SMART Partnership is a public/private partnership and, in many cases, private funding is provided to support a school's participation. The lessons are driven by the curriculum, address state standards and meet the requirements of NCLB.
- Philosophically, how can one put a price tag on the opportunity to get students excited about learning science and math? Will long term student performance on standardized assessments and in school as a whole be enhanced by the teaching of subject matter outside the classroom in the context of real work by using real problems? Is it not the responsibility of educators to expose students at the middle school level to career opportunities that would otherwise be unfamiliar to them? Wouldn't public and private education greatly benefit from the direct involvement of a broader base of adults who have traditionally criticized schools in the educational process? In summary, money well spent.
- How much time is required of the business partner in the process?
- See the Project Implementation Process section of this web site for the specific sequence of activities required of partners in SMART. There are no specific time requirements and the process is flexible enough to accommodate the schedules of all partners. The experience to date is that businesses voluntarily commit more time as the project progresses based upon the meaningful connection with students through the problem based learning engagement.
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