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Five Schools Get Technology Equipment Awards in Northwestern Minnesota
October 01, 1999
Five schools in Northwestern Minnesota will gain increased online access this fall thanks to an innovative partnership of The United Northwest Minnesota INFOCON and Schools Online. The program provides free Internet equipment and teacher professional development to help ensure that the Internet is used as an effective classroom resource. A series of teacher development workshops will take place throughout the 1999-2000 school year at the University of Minnesota Crookston and equipment distribution is planned for November 1999.
"Access to the Internet is a critical resource for educating our children as we enter the 21st century. The United Northwest Minnesota INFOCON is pleased to partner with Schools Online to bring Internet access to these schools," said Fr. Tim Bushy.
The White House Committee of Advisors on Science and Technology calls educational technology "an unusually high-return investment." The CEO Forum on Education and Technology cites a "new urgency" to ensure that these investments in hardware and connectivity for schools are well used.
Schools Online works with local education partners such as The United Northwest Minnesota INFOCON to address these needs with a program of targeted equipment grants, professional development for teachers, and ongoing technical support. Schools Online is a 501(c) 3 public benefit organization. Its mission is to help ensure that all schools have effective access to the communication and information resources of the Internet. The organization donates Internet equipment to schools and facilitates teacher development and support. Since its founding in 1996, Schools Online has been a catalyst, helping more than 5,000 schools gain online access. Together with partners like The United Northwest Minnesota INFOCON, Schools Online has offered workshops on Internet access to more than 8,000 teachers.
Schools Online has provided a grant of five equipment packages to local schools. Each package consists of a Pentium class computer, 27" television monitor, inkjet printer, digital still camera, scanner, and online subscription services. Schools Online will donate up to 1,000 sets of equipment to schools nationwide during the 1999-2000 school year. Equipment is allocated to schools with limited or no instructional Internet access.
The United Northwest Minnesota INFOCON is conducting professional development workshops for teachers from participating schools. During the workshop, teachers will learn how to use the new equipment as well as how to use the Internet in their classroom. Teachers will leave the workshops with the new Internet equipment to use in their classroom.
The United NW Minnesota INFOCON a consortium of rural public and private schools and has as it's mission to provide a forum for sharing information and developing human and financial resources to build and maximize the use of technology in its 13 member schools. There are 13 schools in Northwest Minnesota that belong to the INFOCON. The consortium has been awarded several grant funds and also was recently recognized nationally for an innovative approach to collaboration in technological education by the National Catholic Education Association and also the United States Department of Education.
Member Schools receiving awards have at present dial up access to the Internet and limited technology access. The schools include:
- St. Joseph's School
- Red Lake Falls
- St. Mary's Mission School- Red Lake
- St. Phillip's School- Bemidji
- St. Michael's School- Mahnomen
- St. Bernard's School in Thief River Falls.
The other schools of the INFOCON have T1 or direct 56 K access and already have their schools networked. These schools include: Climax- Shelly, Win-E- Mac, Red Lake Falls, St. Joseph's School in Moorhead, The Cathedral School in Crookston and Sacred Heart High School and Elementary School in East Grand Forks and Holy Rosary School- Detroit Lakes.
For more information call Fr. Tim Bushy at 218 253 2685 or contact Michael Chertok of Schools Online at 408.501.0788. You can also visit the Schools Online's web site at http://www.schoolsonline.org
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