Year Two
Jerry Drinnen and Dorothy Perry-Adams assumed the leadership of
the second cohort of H.E.L.P.ers.
Year One
In year one of H.E.L.P., four schools from the
Wichita school district were chosen to receive 25 Palms (plus a couple
more for the teachers). The school selection was based on demonstrated
teacher interest, solid administrative support and a commitment to
using handhelds in the classroom. The last criterion was key.
Soon we had three "invitee" schools who in
effect insisted on taking part in the project. They either had
handheld resources or were soon to acquire them. What a problem!
Highly motivated, enthusiastic people who insist on joining in! And
during the second semester, we were soon joined by an eighth school.
Each school put together a team, typically three
people consisting of content area teachers and the technology
specialist. Several teams can boast that their principal is an active
participant.
Curtis Middle
School, a technology innovator, is using handhelds in Betty
Blundon's and CiCi Naifeh's math classes. In addition, Sherry Sorrels
also uses them with the after-school Robotics program.
We are welcoming recent addition
Gardiner
Elementary School. Third grade teacher Dave Mitzal eagerly got
off to a fast start using handhelds with his third graders.
At
Kellogg
Science and Technology Magnet School, a combined fourth and fifth
grade class is using handhelds in every content area. Teacher Dorothy
Perry reports that using them has given the students more confidence
in communicating with adults. The handhelds, say resource teachers
Kathy Lessin and Jerry Drinnen, promote more contact and closeness
with the students.
Lawrence
Elementary School boasts not only two content area teachers (Roy
Fisher and Terry Deffenbaugh) and a technology specialists (Brenda
Vague), but its principal Pam Klos has been an active participant from
the beginning.
Mayberry Magnet
Middle School confirms that bringing together content area
teachers and the technology teacher creates a strong team. Deb Burt
teaches language arts, Albert Herrera teaches science, and Mark
Erickson is the technology teacher.
Mead Middle School
has fielded another strong team with science teachers Gary Schoonover
and Mark Franks, technology specialist Laura Kidder and principal
Linda Mathur.
The journalism students at
North High School
are making productive use of the handhelds in and out of class.
Journalism teachers Gaye Coburn and Kathy Whepley, along with
technology specialist Scott Baxter, have also increased their own use of
handhelds.
The fifth graders at
Spaght
Accelerated Magnet Elementary School represent another class that is
using handhelds in all content areas. The Spaght team members are
teachers Laquita Beachum and Laurie Mercer, technology specialist
Marcia Jeans and principal Alicia Thompson.
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