In our schools we have been on the dull edge of a butter knife in the terms
of technology. This last year we began to invest in some serious
technology. The question then arose, what to do with the old computers?
The computer applications classroom was not attracting students with IBM
PS/2 Model 25's and 30's (8088) that could run text based software. This
room was updated with state of the art Macs and Windows machines. The old
IBM's and an underused server (Novell v 2.15) went to the English
department. They now have a writing lab at their disposal and teachers are
seeing marked improvements in student achievement. No one in the English
department teaches these students what is "under the hood". The system
works, and the students are finding success.
Meanwhile, the CAD classroom and the Computer Applications Classroom have
seen increases in enrollment and acheivement scores utilizing state of the
art, glitzy computers. It all depends on the application that the computer
is being used to run. The keyboarding class has no immediate need for new
Pentiums or Power Macs to teach keyboarding skills, so why invest $60-75,000
on upgrading it for the sake of upgrading it. However, when teaching
students that plan on going into secretarial work, should we be teaching
them how to run MS Works 2.0 or Wordperfect 5.1 when they will need a
Windows software such as Worperfect 6.0/6.1 to be competetive in the market?
I think when the need for preparing students drives the need for upgrading,
the need become clear.
There is a place (IMHO) for a simple machine but not in all applications.
It is not the glitz or marketing techniques of the manufacturers that will
drive the purchases of high end machines, but the needs of the curriculum.
My $.02 worth on this topic.
Robert D. Midland
Technology Coordinator
Beatrice Public Schools
213 North Fifth St.
Beatrice, NE 68310
tel: 402-223-1500
fax: 402-223-1509
eml: rmidland@esu6.esu6.k12.ne.us