Computer-ease: West Bend updates parents

The Journal staff

West Bend When it comes to computers, children sometimes know best.

That's why students were the guides Tuesday when the West Bend schools gave a public demonstration of the many ways technology is used in the classroom. Children from each of the elementary schools sat in front of computer screens demonstrating the software they use in class.

"What is this called, guys?," Susan Jaberg, a parent, asked two boys.

Without taking his eyes off the screen or his hand from the mouse, Stevie Kilian, 11, a fifth grader at Green Tree Elementary, explained he was consulting an encyclopedia, computer-style. The volumes of information packed onto the single compact disc even contained colored, animated illustrations of machines such as the pulley and a CD-ROM.

The program beats a book any day for research, Stevie said.

"I like the computer better. It gives you more information," he explained. "You can {even} watch a video."

Jaberg liked it, too. Like many of the adults who attended the session, she admitted she was not computer literate.

"We've had a computer at home for years," she said. "We're plugged into the Internet and everything. I use it for word processing but if I have to do a spreadsheet, {her children} set it up for me."

Educating the adults was one of the reasons for the session, which was part of a presentation called "Technology in Education." Besides the demonstration, the event featured discussions of current uses of technology in district schools and a review of future trends.

The free event was sponsored by Parents in Education.

"Because of the cost involved in acquiring technology, it's important that we do what we can to make sure the community is aware not only of what we have but the direction where we are heading," explained Michael Murphy, principal of Badger Middle School and one of the speakers. "Because it will become a matter of prioritizing within a finite budget."

Murphy is head of the district's technology committee.

At the elementary level, students use computers in the classroom or in labs to brush up on specific skills or learn more about a topic. Ron Jones, principal of Fair Park Elementary School, said the emphasis was on teaching students to become comfortable with the technology.

West Bend's two middle schools began using computers extensively this year. Most are in the library or technical education areas. Both schools are still training teachers to use them, Murphy said.

At West Bend East and West high schools, computers are used in the business and technical education areas. The libraries also are computerized. Computers in the classrooms are rare. Into Internet

Dewitt Everix, a teacher, said a freshman global studies class was able to plug into the Internet this year after a fax, phone and modem were installed in the classroom.

West Bend still has some catching up to do in terms of acquiring hardware and software and planning how to use technology, Murphy said. The most urgent need is to hire a technology coordinator.

"We really need to provide a coordinated focus," he explained. "Because it's clear we can't do everything and we have to provide equity in access to all students."

Parent Ardith Bergerud is worried about the lack of access to computers at the high schools. Her son is a senior whose schedule has never allowed him to take a computer class.

"When {students} are on a college-bound program, they have very little time so they can squeeze in a computer class," Bergerud explained. "Very few of our core courses history, English use computers and use them regularly."

Her son has a computer at home. Others are less fortunate.

"How many students out there don't have a computer?" she asked. "This is a computer world. It's scary."

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