Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Grant Allows Gurdon To Go Global

"Making Connections for a Global Future" is the title of the 1996- 97 International Paper Edcore Technology Grant that was awarded to the Gurdon Public Schools. The purpose of this grant is to provide a technology- rich environment for all our teachers and students. Rationale for this grant states "Kids are the key to America's future and computers are the tools of their time. By the year 2010, virtually every job in America will require some use of technology. This means that we must prepare our youth of today to take on the technology of tomorrow." During the past week a district technology team, composed of a group of administrators and two teachers from each school site, received the first phase of its "hands- on professional training" that will allow global connections to become a reality for all three schools in the district.

Charles Failla, library-media specialist for Gurdon High School, led the technology workshop giving lessons and "hands-on" activities concerning MS-DOS, installing computer network interface cards, reprogramming the computer systems to run netware programs, running and installing cable at the Primary School, hooking cable to the computers at all schools so they are networked, and sending and receiving P-Mail and E-Mail. The technology team include Leonard Gills, Libby White, Freddie Horne, Jeff Alexander, Linda Bullard, Sherry Karr, Marianne Roe, Jo Ann Shaver, Pam Runyan, and Bonnie Ross. According to all members of the technology team "This was a real learning experience."

Future technology grant activities include 1. Professional In-Service for all teachers concerning athe use of P-Mail, E-Mail, and basic traffic operations on internet; 2. a network user workshop for parents, community members, and business patrons; plans and activities using the network to enhance learning; and 4. students will access information via internet to complete a cooperative classroom assignment. The program will be evaluated by all users (Gurdon School District) of the network systems. Technology team members will be available to assist other schools and local businesses in setting up a network of computers to allow for better management and productivity.