Education: Technology changing way of teaching as school uses netbooks in classroom

RIVER VALLEY and OZARK AREA — Hector High School is quickly becoming a “one-to-one” school.

Principal Chris Rink said this means that each student will have access to his or her own netbook computer to use in the classroom.

“We’re doing pretty well with it,” Rink said. “Right now, we have between 500 and 600 desktop/netbook computers for our students to use. That’s about a 2-to-1 ratio. We plan to buy some more netbooks next year, and by the school year 2011-2012, we hope every student will have his or her own netbook.

“At some point, it is possible that the kids will be able to take these netbooks home,” Rink said. “But there are various rulesand procedures that will have to be in place first.”

Rink said a lot of research on the one-to-one concept has been done, and “the district is swaying toward” the idea.

“The netbook is considered a type of textbook,” he said. “It’s just another way technology is being used in schools. The students will continue to use technology in college and in work. The top 10 jobs of the next decade haven’t been invented yet.”

Rink said funding for the netbooks is provided “mostly from federal funds, including stimulus money and money received from the National School Lunch Program. We have a high population - 75 percent - that receives a free or reduced-cost lunch, based on income, and we get a large chunk of money from that program that will be used to help buy the netbooks.”

He noted that each netbook costs about $450.

Mary Inman teaches U.S. history and civics at Hector High School.

“I have my students use the netbooks a lot in my classes,” she said. “The No. 1 benefit for me is that it is a big time-saver. Before, I would have to take the students to the computer lab to access information available on the Internet. This is much more convenient. All the students have to do is take out their netbooks and quickly log in.”

Inman said there are a lot of interactive websites that her students can use during lesson time in the classroom.

“The students can play games, watch videos and learn things,” she said with a smile.

“You have to making learning fun for these kids.”

Inman said students are able to take notes and keep them on the netbooks. She also places weekly assignments on the netbooks for her students to access anytime.

“They come into the classroom and log on,” she said. “They can review current events or vocabulary or work on an assignment. They even take tests using the netbook.

“This has really reduced my paperwork. It’s made my job more efficient.”

Shelly Frew serves as instructional technology facilitator for the Hector School District.

“I love it,” she said of the oneto-one computer program. “I’m a tech geek. The more we use it, the more the kids enjoy it.

“I’m available to help the staff any way I can,” Frew said.

River Valley Ozark, Pages 64 on 05/13/2010

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