Tuesday, April 22, 1997
Teacher training called weak link in chain
of new technology
By LESLIE STRADER
Staff Writer
Abilene school trustees downloaded a wealth of information
on computers and the classroom from technology-savvy teachers
during Monday night's school board meeting.
Two weeks ago, nine teachers from Locust Early Childhood Center,
Lee, Bowie and Long elementaries, Mann and Franklin middle schools
and Cooper and Abilene high schools were commissioned by Superintendent
Charles Hundley to comb through the administration's technology
proposal and give the board their input.
While the group said overall the plan works well, teacher training
was described as the "weak link in the chain."
"The best way for anyone to learn how to use technology
is to have time to sit down and play," Abilene High math
teacher Jeannie Forehand said. "Right now there's a lot of
technology in the district that's not being used as it could be
because there's no time (for training)."
Cooper math teacher Mike McCrum said one solution would be
to have trainers available on each campus, possibly in the form
of curriculum-specific support and a separate hardware expert.
And while more computer labs would be beneficial, teachers
expressed concern about the space available on their campuses.
Joe Alcorta, Mann computer literacy teacher, said he hopes
the board will buy the best machines for the money but have a
plan in place to financially support technology in the future.
"What's going to happen after five years?," he said.
"I don't want to whet everyone's whistle and then not have
any funds."
ALPS teacher Jeanne Wray and Headstart teacher Melissa Couch
encouraged the board not to overlook AISD's special programs.
Both 4- and 5-year-olds and the identified gifted students need
adequate computer access and equipment, they said.
Because of the importance of their input, the board suggested
these teachers meet with the local and Austin-based consultants
who will be reviewing the district's proposal.
Also, deputy superintendent Bob Glover gave a legislative update,
specifically relating to the House bill scheduled to be debated
by the full House today.
Glover presented the board with an AISD position paper describing
how the district would be limited if the bill to reform the tax
structure passes. According to the paper, AISD would be "severely
limited to accomplish" all forms of pay increases for all
teachers and non-teaching staff, support staff and aides, fund
increases in insurance costs and fund the technology plan.
The district is supportive of property tax relief, he said,
but "the restrictive provisions of HB 4 do not allow needs
to be met at the local level."
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Abilene Reporter-News / Texnews / E.W. Scripps Publications
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