A state organization plans to upload more technology into Ohio schools and allow for more technology training for educators.
eTech Ohio's Education Technology Plan focuses on technology education from early years to college years to prepare students for the demands of jobs in a technologically-advanced economy.
The goal is to advance learning in the classroom through technology, said Arlyne Alston, communications officer for eTech Ohio.
The Athens City School District (ACSD) spends $160,000 annually on technology hardware, including servers and new computers, said Matt Bunting, treasurer for ACSD.
The bulk of the technology budget for the ACSD comes from taxes, he added.
An equipment improvement levy a few years back provided one computer for every five students and maintained that no computer would be older than five years
Bunting said.
Internet service for ACSD costs an additional $60,000 per year, he added. The district, however, recoups $40,000 of the Internet service fee from the federal E-Rate program.
The E-Rate Technical Assistance program ensures affordable access to modern telecommunications and information services, according to eTech Ohio's Web site.
Bunting did note that ACSD has been receiving less from eTech over the past few years.
As technology programs improve, schools may qualify for fewer aid initiatives, Alston said.
Locally, technology is part of Athens students' curriculum.
Students can find class specific search engines on InfOhio that specialize in modern languages, art, social studies and science, said Jeff Slattery, Athens High School informational technology and science teacher, in an e-mail response.
Slattery teaches a variety of IT courses including Intro to Computers, Success with the Internet, Computer Troubleshooting and Repair, Network Administration and Multimedia Computer Applications.
Technology is not limited to high school. Elementary students are logging on to help meet state testing standards.
Chauncey Elementary School uses a Web-based program called Study Island said Tom Fearns, a math and technology teacher at the school, in an e-mail response.
Questions in Study Island are in a similar format to those on the state test. This allows students to become comfortable with the test style and, therefore, reduce test-taking mistakes and improve scores, Fearns added.
Because Study Island is completely Web-based students can use it at school or home and can study and learn at their own pace ... all they need is an Internet connection
he said.
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Elizabeth Lundblad
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