Philosophy
We must be prepared to utilize all available tools
to meet goals established by the 21st Century Challenge. The use of
technology in our schools represents one of those tools. Children are
the key to America's future and computers are the tools of their
times.
Technology can enhance children's learning and
unlock their creativity. It can help children be more productive and
develop better communication skills that will help them succeed in
college or the workplace.
Those responsible for predicting the future work
force indicate that the US economy will become more and more tied to
our ability to access knowledge and information. When utilized along
with other resources, such as the timely availability of management
information, effectively prepared teachers and administrators, well
equipped facilities, and appropriate levels of funding, technology
can help ensure that our students will become successful and
productive citizens.
With this in mind, it is important to give our
children preparation in the technological skills that will be
necessary for the 21st Century.
Local
Advances:
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Lauderdale County Schools boasts a wide
variety of technology and network capabilities.
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Every school in Lauderdale County, as well as
the district office, is wired with a high-speed ethernet network.
(LAN) This creates a district wide-area network. (WAN) A network
such as this allows students and staff members to share files and
other information in a fast, efficient manner. Work can be done
cooperatively on local class projects or projects with other
classes around the world.
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Every classroom in every school has been wired
for Internet access. As new computers are placed in schools, this
provides immediate access to LAN and WAN services, as well as
Internet access,. Providing Internet access to students and staff
takes education beyond geographical boundaries and furnishes
reference materials that otherwise would not be available to
them.
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Each year, more and more teachers become
involved in national and international Internet cooperative
learning projects. Many have received recognition in newspapers
and magazines.
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Internet safety is a top priority in our
schools. We feel our students deserve as safe a learning
experience as possible through technology and have taken steps to
provide a secure environment with the support of a content
filtering system. This system filters objectionable Internet
material while maintaining the integrity of the world wide
web.
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Currently, the technology department supports
approximately 1500 computers, the majority of which have wide-area
network and Internet privileges. The number of computers in our
schools is growing daily.
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The Lauderdale County Technology Department
has been recognized as one of the most progressive and innovative
rural school districts in the state.
Computer
Labs:
Schools with 7th and 8th grades contain Goals 2000
Science Technology Labs.
Ripley
High School
and
Halls
High School
contains fully-equipped IBM
and Macintosh computer labs, plus a Technical Education Modular Lab.
Each of the remaining schools have networked Apple IIe/Macintosh
labs, Josten's Learning labs, or Plato Learning labs.
Ripley High serves as a WREG-TV Weather Station
site
http://www.wreg.com/global/category.asp?c=5492
and Halls High maintains a Geostationary Operational Earth Station
(G.O.E.S..) This real time satellite captures live images from
geostationary and polar orbiting weather satellites around the world.
