Technology at USD411
January 20, 2008
Technology is very important today in education and USD411 is keeping pace with technology to provide students the tools to learn. USD411 has long support technology in the classroom and has made technology a priority.
USD411 has an extensive computer network spanning two buildings offering connectivity to the World Wide Web as well as to file sharing a printing. Students have access to desktop or laptop computers almost on a one to one basis. Student can save work on our Novell File Servers and well and print out work in the classroom.
At a very early age, students are taught to use the computer. The Elementary School has an extensive lab where students are taught how to use keyboards and “pointing devices.” Elementary students are prepared to enter Junior High and High School with typing skills and computer savvy. The Fourth and Fifth grades have their own laptops in the room while other grades share the Elementary lab.
The Junior High has a large lab dedicated to students Sixth through Eighth grade. Students can use Microsoft Office, research on the World Wide Web, and print papers.
In the High School, laptops are available for work in English, Social Studies, Math, and Business. Addition computers are located in the Library along with a number of Apple computers. Special Education in both the Junior High and the High School has access to computers as well. The Agriculture Department also has a large lab. Music uses computer technology to train students and the Art Department has computers to teach graphic arts. The Agriculture Department also has a large lab for research and learning. Family and Consumer Science has a computer lab in the classroom. The Yearbook department depends on a number of computers to put together the annual yearbook.
The District's Libraries at the Elementary School and at the Junior/High School use state-of-the-art web based software to track books and keep inventory. The Atrium software program is linked to the Library of Congress and keeps statistics on reading levels of the collection. Students can search the libraries holdings from any computer in the District and from home.
Students can also take classes from Hutchinson Junior College through ITV. ITV is an interactive video connection and links Goessel with HJC, and several other schools to share teaching resources.
Each teacher has a laptop for keeping grades and working on lesson plans. An e-mail system keeps administration and staff link together. In addition, many teachers use projectors and SmartBoards for instruction. Goessel also takes advantage of the new digital photography and video technology using state-of-the-art cameras and editing software.
Goessel USD411 is also part of The Learning Consortium and shares a robust Internet connection that gives students a fast on-ramp to the information super-highway.
USD411 is committed to technology as a learning tool to insure that students have the tools to meet today’s challenges.
