Contact: Maridith Geuder
Demonstrating their technology skills while providing much-needed instructional equipment for their budget-strapped schools, more than two dozen middle school students will spend Tuesday morning [March 26] building computers almost from scratch.
During a 9 a.m.-noon workshop at Mississippi State University's Bost Extension Center, members of several public school "techno teams" will connect components to build functioning units. When assembled, the finished product will return with them to school.
"Computer Building 101" is organized by CREATE for Mississippi, an MSU-coordinated consortium working to expand the use of technology in state classrooms. An acronym for Challenging Regional Educators to Advance Technology in Education, the cooperative effort was launched in 1999 through an initial $1.85 million grant from the United States Department of Education. An additional $2.5 million has since been added for program expansions.
Event coordinator Dan Brook said Starkville-based Unistar Computers is providing discounted computer components--hard drives, motherboards and random access memory, among others--for what is part of an ongoing series of learning sessions for students, teachers and school administrators. The training is organized by MSU's Center for Educational and Training Technology, which Brook co-directs.
Brook said the student teams work regularly with educational technologists in their participating school districts. Each member is trained to identify and solve technical problems and assist teachers with developing multimedia presentations for their classrooms.
David Witt and Adel Elsohly, president and vice president, respectively, of the Oxford High School Internet Club will begin the program with a demonstration of the assembly process.
"These two high school seniors, like the middle school students, have a strong interest in technology and have developed the skills necessary to provide assistance to their schools," Brook said. "They are selected based on criteria established by each school."
The techno team program currently involves schools in three of the state's congressional districts, with Jackson and Gulf Coast campuses soon to join.
Participants in the 2002 session of "Computer Building 101" include [by town]:
ANGUILLA--Students Kelly Keys and Patsy Holloway of South Delta Middle School, accompanied by educational technologist Lucille Lovett.
ARCOLA--Students Shalarius Willis and Lorenzo Flowers of Chambers Middle School, accompanied by educational technologist Mark Beechem.
BOONEVILLE--Students Casey Bullard and Dustin King of Booneville Middle School, accompanied by educational technologist Donna Cooper.
COLLINSVILLE--Students Dan Anderson and Bradley Eaves of West Lauderdale Middle School, accompanied by educational technologist Tory Swearingen.
COLUMBUS--Students Matthew Campassi and Jonathan Lovelady of New Hope Middle School, accompanied by educational technologist Amy Cummins.
DREW--Students Dennis Willingham and Lashonya Willis of Hunter Middle School, accompanied by educational technologist Betty Quinn and Dennis Silas, technology coordinator for the Drew School District.
GREENVILLE--Students James McGary and Ian Johnson of Coleman Middle School, accompanied by educational technologist Martha Jackson.
HEIDELBURG--Students Briana Williams and Jonathan Waters of Berry Elementary School, accompanied by educational technologist LeAnn Moore.
HOULKA--Students Aislinn Kopp and B.J. Schwalenberg of Houlka Attendance Center, accompanied by educational technologist Teresa Moore.
TUPELO--Students Jordan Holland and Tracy Sinn of Tupelo Middle School, accompanied by educational technologists Misty Harmon and Jennifer Robison.
WEST POINT--Students Charvis Davidson and Mary Beth Gholson of Central School, accompanied by educational technologist Penny Elliott.
WINONA--Students Benjamin Eubanks and John Michael Parker of Winona Junior High School, accompanied by educational technologist Marsha Cummings.
For more information about CREATE for Mississippi, visit http://www.create4ms.org.