Electronic Contact

I have been in contact with both my step sister, Salley, and her husband, Kenneth. They both teach at Lawrence County High School in Lawrenceburg, Tennessee. Salley teaches English and Kenneth teaches History. I have lived in Baldwin County for about 9 years now and really didn't realize how far ahead they are from my home town of Lawrenceburg. While I was emailing back and forth with my sister, I realized she didn't really understand a lot about the technology that is available to the schools today. Besides using some computers, Lawrence County is still using most of the same technology they used when I went to school there 2o years ago.

When I asked Salley and Kenneth to explain some of the technology that they use today it was still mainly the basics like Overhead projectors with transparencies and CD's and DVD's. The most high tech they really get there is having a portable laptop computer lab with wireless Internet. Salley did say she liked to use PowerPoint with projection using her own laptop computer. She also uses instructional software. Salley felt that it was a great way to enrich the students who needed enrichment and offered remedial help for those who needed it. The con of the programs where some students wanted just to play and not really do what the program needed them to do.

Both Salley and Kenneth used the classroom management software. this is the computer based grade book program to manage their grades and communication with parents. This articular program offers the parents Internet access to their student's progress, assignments, etc. They said by using this program they could easily access progress reports for individual students as well as look at classes as a whole to see how lessons were received and if their goals were achieved. They both expressed the con as relying totally on the computer. They said it is imperative to have a backup for this in case of computer problems.

Kenneth more than Salley tried to use online textbooks in his class. Kenneth said he uses this tool with his students as enrichment to the regular classroom. This program offers quizzes and additional work that the students can use to help reinforce what is being taught in the classroom. He feels the main con with this that many students didn't use the tool from home wither because of lack of initiative on no Internet access in the home.

They did tell me that Columbia State College who has a building on our high school grounds is doing a computer based distance learning program with the advanced diploma students. This program is to help the graduating seniors earn college credits before they graduate. Neither Salley not Kenneth are involved with this program. Other than that the schools in Lawrence County are sadly deprived of the technology that most schools now have.

It is very sad for me to think about my hometown of Lawrenceburg, Tennessee being so deprived when it comes to their students learning. I have listened to Ms. Averitt and other teachers speak of the technology that is available and I don't understand why every school doesn't have the same opportunities. I am very glad though that I have my kids in a school system that makes this type of technology readily available.