GHS goes high-tech with new lab, boards

By Owen Boss

GARDNER — In an effort to create the best learning environment possible for students returning to Gardner High School, the faculty has made several new learning materials available, including a new computer lab and three interactive whiteboards. Principal Andrew Haas said the school used funding for the new computer lab and other learning materials as part of an ongoing effort to put the technology of the future in the hands of students at a young age. “When I was speaking to the faculty, I told them to really push using technology — not just in the communications classes, but in every class,” said Mr. Haas. “We are really working toward developing 21st-century learners, and utilizing what technology is out there and available to us.” The new computer lab consists of 24 new Macintosh computers, which faculty member Mark Kobel said will provide faster connections and better software to communication systems students looking to edit digital recordings. “The main drive behind this lab was to update our computers so that we would have enough computer speed to do things like video editing, which our old computers just couldn’t do,” said Mr. Kobel. “These computers are allowing us to do things we weren’t able to do before.” Although Mr. Kobel said the communications students in his class utilize the new computers for the majority of their class time, the new units will provide new opportunities to students in other classes. “I use the Photoshop on these computers from a photographer’s point of view, but it can also be used from an artist’s point of view,” said Mr. Kobel. “We will now be able to do Flash animation, which is a current type of software they use for different types of animation on the Web.” Another new technology implemented for the coming school year are three new interactive whiteboards, state-of-the-art devices that project Web sites onto a screen, allowing the teacher to surf the Web simply by touching the screen. These new learning materials will help change the way teachers transmit information to their students, according to Director of Technology Karen Scanlon. “When you project whatever it is that is on the computer up against the interactive whiteboard, the teacher will become the mouse,” said Ms. Scanlon. “If the students are looking at a Web site and the teacher wants to highlight something, you can just use one of these pens and write directly on the board.” Mr. Haas said the new software will allow students to express themselves differently, turning traditional research papers into something more interactive. “We want to be able to have students come down to the computer lab to write a traditional paper, be able to show it in a variety of ways,” said Mr. Haas. “This will open it up for kids to show their learning differently.” oboss@thegardnernews.com

Appeared on Page 1 on 9/3/2008 (Vol. 205 No. 208)