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The
Springer Technology Committee meets the last Thursday
of every month at 7:30am in the library. Meetings are open to
any
interested Springer parent.
The
Technology Program has, over a
span of 14
years, become heavily integrated into the Springer curriculum,
especially in
language arts. Students learn phonics-based touch typing and other
computer
skills as first graders; they subsequently use technology in writing
labs,
Internet based research, World Wide Web curriculum units, yearbook
production,
email-based pen pals around the world, and potentially many other ways
in the
future.
Technology
is promoted and supported by Springer's
Technology Committee made up of parents and Springer staff. Many
members work at
leading Silicon Valley firms. Technology Aides, funded by the
Los Altos Educational Foundation,
staff the Computer Lab and support teachers as much as possible.
Did
you know that all the computers at Springer School have been purchased
by the PTA with money from fund raisers. The district and the
state provide NO MONEY for computer equipment. The Technology
Committee working closely with the PTA and the Hewlett Packard parents
continually look for ways to stretch the limited budget and provide
more technology resources for the students.
What
remains is an acute shortage of capable classroom
computers, for which there are no school district funds. The current
goal is to
migrate the older Macintosh computers running OS9 to OSX.
This effort will
require replacement of many older machines that will not support an
upgrade and
upgrading memory to the newer machines.
Springer
actively solicits donations of equipment:
Camcorders, Macs, Stereos, etc.
In
addition to supporting the computer and Audio Visual
infrastructure at Springer, the Technology Committee has several
working
subcommittees:
- Planning:
Long term vision and planning for classroom computing
- Springer
Website: Maintain the website and coordinate volunteers'
efforts to publish on the website
- Staff
Training & Mentoring: Support the staff to reach
their technology objectives
- Student
Activities: Increasing student involvement, such as
establishment of a computer club
- Community
Outreach: Involving the Springer community in activities such
as technology nights
- Donations:
Procuring technology donations from businesses and families
Thank
you for your interest in helping our school. Volunteers
are needed at all levels. For more information or to become involved in
Springer's Technology Program, email the Technology
Committee.
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