State Schools Superintendent Susan Castillo announced Wednesday that Oregon is the first state in the nation to sign up for Google Apps for Education in K-12 classrooms.
Google Apps are available for free to Oregon public schools on a voluntary basis and are designed to help schools improve digital literacy and reduce IT costs while maintaining the security of school and student data.
“Educators and students now have access to the same cutting-edge technology used in the business world with added federal student privacy and confidentiality protections,” said Susan Castillo.
“In a time of dwindling resources, I am grateful for Google’s partnership. Our students have a wonderful opportunity to prepare for the workplace by using workplace technology in the classroom,” she added.
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Teachers are encouraged to integrate technology into lessons. Though more computers are becoming available in schools, students are not always receiving the benefits.
No Child Left Behind is pushing for more technology resources to be made available in schools. Most schools now have at least one computer in each classroom. Many also have computer labs available. Teachers are expected to understand the use of technology for education, both in support of and for teaching students to use. However, many high schools are still lacking in regards to encouraging the use of available technology to teach computer science.
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Six years ago, the internet was limited both in what it could do and in who used it. Many people had heard the word but did not have a clue what it was. Today, most teachers have not only been exposed to the internet but also have access at home or at school. In fact, a large number of schools are being retrofitted to place the internet in every classroom. Even more exciting than this is the newest technology: Wireless. A school can purchase a ‘Portable Classroom’. This consists of laptops networked together, allowing students to work at their desks WITHOUT wires. If the laptops are networked to a printer, students can print from their personal computer to the classroom printer. Imagine the possibilities!
Integrating Technology
Research is the number one reason to use the internet in education. Students have a wealth of information open to them. Often, when they are researching obscure topics, school libraries do not have the needed books and magazines. The internet helps solve this problem.
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