News

High-tech heaven for sixth graders here

By SPIROS GALLOS / Niles Daily Star
Monday, August 16, 2004 10:55 AM EDT

NILES - Imagine a classroom where a teacher asks students a question over a computer and each student can respond instantaneously with their own computer.

A distant future perhaps?

Try a couple weeks from now when classes begin for Niles Community Schools.

Friday, 11 students got the chance to test out some of the 298 laptops that will be issued to sixth-graders in the district this year.

The laptops, which feature wireless internet capabilities, were provided by a grant under Michigan's Freedom to Learn technology education intiative.

Robbie Legus, 11, can't wait to get his laptop issued to him.

"I like doing book reports on the computer," he said.

Dave Del Muro, director of technology and media services for Niles schools, wanted to make sure the machines were ready for the school year.

"It's easier to catch any problems we may have in a small group now, rather than try to fix it when all the notebooks are distributed," Del Muro said.

Del Muro guided the students through most of the programs that were loaded on the laptops including the Encarta reference library, the entire Microsoft Office suite, discourse, and other programs.

Discourse, a program that allows for real-time communication between the teacher and students in a classroom, will have many implications, according to Del Muro.

"With this program the teacher can see all responses on his or her screen, so class participation will rise as a result," he said.

The program will also help teachers identify students stuggling with learning material, and also allow shy students to answer questions without fear of being labeled a "bookworm," Del Muro said.

Marcia Cousins, a technology coordinator for Niles schools was also on-hand to help the kids out.

"This is such a great opportunity for these kids,"Cousins said.

Cousins will also be working with Del Muro to ensure the teachers are as familiar with the laptops as the students they will be teaching.

"I want the teachers to be up to speed with everything on the computers before classes start," Cousins said.

Hewlett Packard, which supplied the computers, will provide 24 hour technical support for every teacher to access in case they have any questions when working online.

The Intermediate School District of Berrien County will train the teachers on how to use the computers in the best possible. After the initial classes, "lead teachers" from each school will take ongoing classes to learn new techniques and teach them to other teachers at their respective schools, Del Muro said. "One thing that is nice is that the program is high in professional development," Del Muro said.

Del Muro is also taking steps to ensure that the children will be safe while using the internet.

Friay, Del Muro advised kids to never give out personal information if approached in a chat room.

"Give out a fake name and age, and never say where you go to school," Del Muro told the children.

Del Muro will also arrange internet safety classes with the Michigan Stae Police to educate children how to use the web safely.

"The internet is a great tool, but like a lot of things, there are great dangers involved," Del Muro said.

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