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<br />State IN-TECH Grant
<br />
<br />With it, a team of teachers
<br />with expertise in technology
<br />will develop technology-
<br />related curriculum materials
<br />and train other staff. to use
<br />technology in their work. Over
<br />40 developers/demonstrators
<br />with specialities in areas
<br />ranging from art to home
<br />economics to computer
<br />science will work under the
<br />program. Some have already
<br />begun reviewing software
<br />packages and determ i 1'1 i ng
<br />how they can be used in the
<br />curriculum. They have also
<br />made some demonstration.
<br />videotapes in a variety of sub-
<br />ject areas with the help of
<br />Group W Cable studios in
<br />Anoka.
<br />A share of the grant money
<br />went to the development of
<br />two technology labs plus a
<br />mobile lab that will be used
<br />for staff training and other
<br />purposes. One lab is located
<br />at Fridley Middle 'School
<br />(Fridley School District is one
<br />of the cooperating districts).
<br />The IN-TECH project will also
<br />make use of the IBM Profes-
<br />sional~Development Ce'nter at
<br />Blaine High School, installed
<br />under the IBM grant to Anoka-
<br />Hennepin.
<br />
<br />
<br />The IN TECH bus is the most visible symbol of a project aimed at training
<br />teachers to use technology effectively in the classroom. Aboard the bus
<br />teachers will be able to review computer software for pssible use in the
<br />classroom and watch videotaped demonstrations of technology use. In addi.
<br />tion, the bus may be used for training small groups.
<br />
<br />In January, Anoka-Henne-
<br />pin was one of.ten Minnesota
<br />school districts, or groups of
<br />districts, selected to receive a
<br />share of the 1.2 million dollars
<br />appropriated by the state
<br />legislature for technology
<br />grants to school districts.
<br />Al'loka:Hennepin and seven
<br />cooperating districts received
<br />$125,120 share of the money
<br />
<br />to develop a model program
<br />for technology use.
<br />That project, dubbed IN-
<br />TECH (INtegrating TECH-
<br />nology into the classroom) is
<br />based 61'1 a "Trainer of Train-
<br />ers" model, according to Ran.
<br />dy Johnson, instructional
<br />technology consultant in
<br />Anoka-Hennepin.
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<br />Ramsey Resident - November, 1984 - Page 5
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<br />A transit bus remodeled in-
<br />to a mobile technology lab
<br />will bring a technology re-
<br />source facility to the school
<br />door. Aboard the bus teachers
<br />will be able. to review com-
<br />puter software and watch
<br />taped demonstr~tions of tech-
<br />nology use in the classroom.
<br />The bus will also be used as a
<br />training facility for small
<br />groups.
<br />The IN-TECH bus is getting
<br />rave reviews from everyone
<br />who steps inside it.
<br />t .
<br />
<br />"The response from key
<br />legislative . staff and State
<br />Department of Education of-
<br />ficials who toured it is, 'We
<br />need about three more of
<br />these around the state'," said
<br />Paul Musegades, IN-TECH
<br />coordinator. The attention is
<br />not surprising since the bus is
<br />the only one of its kind in the
<br />nation. It is being seen not on-
<br />ly as the most unique but the
<br />most visible symbol of the IN-
<br />TECH project.
<br />
<br />IBM. GRANT.
<br />
<br />Making computers count
<br />
<br />In February, Anoka-Henne- members from each school
<br />pin was selected as one of 26 with an IBM lab during an ex-
<br />. school districts in the United tensive four week session in
<br />States to participate in a the new Professional
<br />Model School Computer Developm~nt Center. These
<br />Literacy Program~ IBM teachers will serve as
<br />donated 75 computers, about technology resources for
<br />$70,000 related software and staff. in their own buildings.
<br />$10,000 for staff training pur- "It really is a tremendous
<br />poses. With this .grant, the opportunity that IBM has
<br />school district established given to us and to school
<br />computer labs of 15 units systems across the nation,"
<br />each at Wilson and Sand said Larson. "The school
<br />Creek. Elementary Schools, district has played a big role,
<br />Jackson Junior High, and too. Without the commitment
<br />Coon Rapids High School, of Anoka-Hennepin, it
<br />plus a Professional Develop- wouldn't have had the impact
<br />ment Center at BlaiAe High we will see. The sctlOol
<br />School that will be used for district has put forth a lot of
<br />staff training purposes. leadership in this area, and a
<br />Three Anoka-Hennepin lot of money into the tech-
<br />staff persons, Karen Long, nology program. It's going to
<br />business education consult- payoff."
<br />ant, Roger Larson, math- Teachers throughout the
<br />ematics consultant, and Ran- entire school district will have
<br />dy Johnson attended an inten- numerous opportunities to
<br />sive in-service program with participate in special
<br />other IBM model school par- technology-related training
<br />ticipants last spring. They in programs. A school district
<br />t u r(:l... t.r? 11) ~ 9. .>f.i y ~.' . ~ t. 0: f.f. . 95'!T! ry1! t.t ~ ~. . i? .' .d. ~ v.e) <? P! r: g. .'. . . . . . .' - . - .'. .'. . . . . . . . .- . . . . . ?
<br />
<br />
<br />Karen Long, business education consultant in Anoka-Hennepin, spoke with Senator Jerome
<br />Hughes, member of the Senate Education Committee, when he toured the Professional
<br />Development Center at Blaine High School.
<br />
<br />\
<br />plans for providing these op-
<br />portunities.
<br />Teachers .and consultants
<br />agree that a well-trained
<br />staff will be the key to putting
<br />technology to work in the
<br />classroom.
<br />"The benefits are going to
<br />show up in the classroom, it's
<br />really for the kids," said Lar-
<br />son. They will be able to learn
<br />creatively and to feel capable
<br />and good about themselves
<br />while they are doing it."
<br />But'they are also quick to'
<br />point out that technology is
<br />only another tool for teachers
<br />to use.
<br />"A goal in' the school
<br />district is to make the use of
<br />instructional technology as
<br />common and as natural to use
<br />as any textbook, projector, or
<br />laboratory activity," said
<br />Johnson. "This will happen
<br />when teachers become
<br />familiar with the equipment
<br />and its potential."
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<br />Superintendent Lewis Finch tours the newly completed IN TECH bus with
<br />Instructional Technology Consultant Randy Johnson, left, and Paul
<br />Muse ades, coordinator of the IN TECH project.
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<br />Staff representatives from the schools with IBM computer labs participated
<br />in an intensive four week inservice program in the new IBM Professional
<br />Development Center at Blaine High School. Here Randy Johnson, instructional
<br />technology consultant, works with Paul Rogne, social studies teacher at
<br />.Jackson Junior High School (foreground), and Norma Colem'an, media
<br />generalist at Wilson Elementary School.
<br />
<br />While the number of micro- this year when it was awarded
<br />computers in Anoka-Henn- two separate grants, one from
<br />epin School District has more the State Department of Edu-
<br />than. doubled since last spr- cation and the other from the
<br />ing - from 324 to over 800 IBM Corporation, both design-
<br />units - the school district is ed primarily to educate teach-'
<br />more interested in making ers to use technology.
<br />computers count,not/simply "While, some districts
<br />counting computers. received-grants for projects
<br />To do that, the school that are heavily equipment-
<br />district has begun an inten- oriented, ours is really a peo-
<br />sive in-service education pro- pie project. The heart of both
<br />gram aimed at teaching teach- grants is not in the equip-
<br />ers how to use technology ment, but in training staff so
<br />most effectively' in the they can make the best use of
<br />classroom. it," said Paul Musegades,
<br />The school district received coordinator of the IN-TECH
<br />boost in this effort earlier _ . project.
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