*************** The ARRL Letter Vol. 21, No. 48 December 13, 2002 ***************

==>ROCK STAR GIVES MAJOR DONATION TO "THE BIG PROJECT"

Hoping that his donation will spur others to contribute to "The Big Project," veteran rock star and well-known amateur Joe Walsh, WB6ACU, has given in a major way to ARRL's Education and Technology Fund. ARRL Chief Development Officer Mary Hobart, K1MMH, says the "significant gift" through the Joseph F. Walsh Foundation will fund an additional eight pilot schools in the ARRL Education and Technology Program.

ARRL President Jim Haynie, W5JBP, expressed his gratitude for Walsh's dedication and support to The Big Project's goals and aims. "I am particularly pleased with Joe's donation, as it emphasizes his belief in our school project and more importantly, investing in the future of Amateur Radio," Haynie said. "The additional schools that will be brought into the program as a result of this donation represent a big step in increasing the number of students participating in the ARRL Science and Technology program."

Walsh, best-known as a guitarist, vocalist and songwriter with The Eagles and The James Gang, has been an active Amateur Radio operator for more than 37 years. He's also an avid collector of Collins Radio gear. The amount of his donation was not made public.

The Big Project--as the program is popularly known--highlights Amateur Radio as a significant resource for teachers in classrooms as well as for enrichment and after-school programs. The 40 pilot schools now in the program receive a complete Amateur Radio station, technical library and a curriculum that makes technology fun and relevant for the participating students.

Walsh's contribution was one of 3500 made by ARRL members, who--together--have raised more $225,000 to fund the Education & Technology Program in 2003.

==>CURRICULUM REVIEW IS NEXT ON "THE BIG PROJECT" AGENDA

With the addition of 14 new schools--13 pilot schools and one progress grant school--in December, the ARRL Education and Technology Program--"The Big Project"--is up to a total of 41 participating schools. That's more than double the number of schools involved since the program's launch in February.

Early in 2003, the 13 pilot schools will be receiving complete Amateur Radio station equipment, a curriculum and a technical library, said ARRL Education and Technology Program coordinator Jerry Hill, KH6HU. The 14th school, which already uses Amateur Radio in the classroom, will receive a $500 progress grant.

More than new schools is being added to the Education and Technology Program. Hill said that as the program nears its first full year in existence, an evaluation of the curriculum is now under way.

"We have a new draft of the curriculum, and we'll be testing it in all of the schools, asking them to add their lessons and activities and report back in June," Hill said. "Then we'll get a new one out for September and post it on the Web. The new curriculum will be out there for anyone to use." Hill says he does not expect Web posting until late next year, however.

Hill said that The Big Project will update the curriculum yearly, so the program can offer teachers and students a continually improved program. One of the first major efforts will be to split the text of the curriculum into two parts--elementary and secondary. That way, Hill said, the program can offer developmentally appropriate levels of instruction while still teaching similar concepts to all participants.

The program's first pilot school was DeGolyer Elementary School in Dallas, Texas. DeGolyer, which tested the program beginning in 2001, got major-market media exposure December 9 when its activities were featured in a Dallas Morning News article. Under the direction of teacher Sanlyn Kent, KD5LXO--who was not a ham when she began working with the youngsters at DeGolyer--the program has turned out 30 new young hams in fewer than two years.