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The Tech
21 Initiative
Parents whose children are in the Tech
21 Initiative at the ninth grade level
will procure or purchase a netbook or laptop for their
sons and daughters to use at school and at home on
a daily basis. Teachers of ninth
grade students will be integrating technology into
their curriculum on a daily basis and meeting
weekly to ensure that the students are learning
the higher level thinking skills that are
necessary for 21st century living.
Tech 21 students will continue to use their
computer to extend their learning at school and at
home with the use of this powerful tool
throughout the rest of their careers at DuBois
Area Catholic School.
Educationally Sound
Research has found that children who have participated in a 1:1 computing
experience have experienced a notable increase in
self-esteem, motivation, writing and editing
skills, team building skills, problem solving
abilities, and Internet research capabilities.
Other School Technology
Teachers will be equipped with netbooks,
projectors, and a variety of digital programs.
Textbooks will be used online in many cases.
Students at upper levels will be able to enroll in
virtual courses in the future that enrich and expand our
curriculum.
Recommended Netbook
Specification
Most
netbooks that are available today are adequate for
the type of work students do on a daily basis.
They are inexpensive technology starting at under
$300. We recommend that the following
specifications:
Computer Resource Support
Students will receive an orientation to the
project at the beginning of the school year.
The ultimate responsibility for the equipment
belongs to the students. All major problems
will need to be addressed outside the school.
School technology staff will aid students with
basic technology questions and problems. Additionally, student interns will provide network and technology
support to students and staff.
Planning for the Future
We are certain that the merging of
education and netbooks or laptops will be
enriching, rewarding, and meaningful for students,
parents, and teachers. The
everyday use of technology in and out of
the classroom will make
instruction more personal for students, and help
to prepare them for a highly-technical, global
society. The world is
changing faster than ever before.
Having access to a netbook or laptop at
school helps to bridge the gap between the way
students live at home and the way they learn at
school. Teachers are able to
teach students to use technology in ways that help
them learn, allow them to collaborate with others,
and are safe.
Employers need very different skills now than in the past.
They’ll be looking for the most competent,
most creative, and the most innovative people.
Today’s students need to be inspired to
become creative problem solvers and intellectual
risk takers so that they are prepared for their
futures. Having full time
access to a personal netbook or laptop as a
learning tool gives students a solid foundation
for informational literacy, which can be applied
to any learning situation in the future.
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