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November 5, 2009

School technology gets a 21st Century boost

By Julie Huss

DERRY — A local grant program has given a big boost to technology in the Derry school district.

The 21st Century program awarded three grants to Derry school projects and curriculums to help bring more technology to the district while saving money in the process.

All of the grant honorees represent Gilbert H. Middle School.

Joel Olbricht, a member of the 21st Century program, spoke to school board members last week and gave an update of what the technology funding will support this year.

"It's always a pleasure to be here," Olbricht told board members, adding 21st Century began as a way to help support "pretty creative things around the district."

Olbricht announced the three grant recipients, who then went on to explain where the grant money would be used.

The first grant award, $1,277, went to Hood language arts teacher Kim Parsons for a program, Reading and Reviewing Rascals" where she will use video cameras, microphones, and tripods to help students read novels on their own while helping others learn. Parsons' students plan to tape book critiques and information to share with other Hood students via "Husky" television at Hood.

The second grant, $2,758, went to Hood Spanish teacher Diane Pius who hopes to use the grant money for an interactive white board in the classroom, a board that can help students learn and save information right on the board. Pius also will have control of the board from the back of the room and can also utilize the information on the class Web site.

The third 21st Century grant for $2,022 went to Hood computers teacher Kimberly Tufts who will use the funding for a program, "What's Your Story?" Tufts said the grant money will be used to purchase a video camera and microphone to help her students with a digital storytelling project. The students will record their own voices and a story and save it on a video.

"I am so excited and I hope when students are done we'll have a whole lot of digital stories to show you," Tufts told the board.

Now in its 17th year, the 21st Century program raises thousands of dollars each summer during its benefit golf tournament, offering technology support for schools and paying for programs and equipment not included in the school budget.

"We pride ourselves in finding new initiatives," Olbricht said, "things teachers would like to try."

In the spring, grant recipients will return to the school board to offer additional information on how the grant-funded programs worked this year.

Olbricht said he was proud of what 21st Century Learning had done in all the years and the schools' hard work bringing innovative technology into the classrooms.

"We have a great board and good thinking going on," he said.

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