By Staff
Technology encompasses computers, telephones, audio/video equipment, security systems, lighting systems, heating and cooling systems, distance learning equipment and more.
The use of technology in all aspects of education, and in business, continues to expand daily.
Our mission is to prepare our students in the uses of technology both today and in the future.
Doing so is no easy task, as technology changes and innovations require constant updates of equipment, software, training and curriculum integration.
Dowagiac Union Schools has made significant investments in keeping our technology up-to-date.
We have an ongoing computer replacement schedule, a district-wide fiber WAN was installed two years ago, new and updated software is added regularly, and, to assure we are best meeting the needs of our students, our curriculum is evaluated and updated to reflect the ever-changing technology environment.
Here are some of the many ways technology is used within our schools.
In all of our buildings students take NWEA tests in both the fall and spring. These tests are used to track how individual students are progressing over time.
At the elementary levels, programs from Scientific Learning are assisting our students in becoming better readers.
Some of our buildings are using the Accelerated Reader and Read Naturally programs.
As the names imply, these programs also assist our students in becoming better readers as well.
Every building has a distance learning lab to use for video conferencing. This lab allows our students to experience virtual field trips to such places as NASA, the Cincinnati Zoo, the Iditarod and even between our own buildings.
Not only are virtual field trips fun and educational, exposure to video conferencing technology is an important piece in preparing students for their futures.
Video conferencing is increasingly being used in both business and education.
In the middle school, students use technology for research, presentations, reports and classroom projects.
Teachers can send video to screens in their rooms from VCR, DVD and computers to assist students with their various projects.
A mobile computer lab is available for in-classroom use.
And, all computers within the building are connected to the Internet for research.
At the high school, the media center is equipped with 30 computers for student use.
Additionally, there are three classroom labs and a mobile computer lab utilized by our students.
Students are creating newsletters, presentations, portfolios, using Palms, learning how speech recognition is used and are integrating the use of scanners, digital cameras, video and sound into various projects.
All of this use of technology requires pre-planning by our teaching staff.
The teaching staff works diligently to stay updated with the current and best uses of technology.
During various meetings throughout the year, such as school improvement, district technology and curriculum council, our staff looks at ways to improve our integration of technology.
It is an ongoing project that the staff at Dowagiac Schools will continue to work hard so we can best meet the needs of our students.