NORWICH – As companies become more dependent on technology, the need for skilled computer operators increases. In today’s society, those entering the professional market may need more than the basic courses typically offered at high schools to get ahead of the pack.
Technology has become essential to daily life for many Americans, starting with children at very young ages. Children in kindergarten, and even younger, are embracing the concepts of computers. Throughout past decade, the increasing number of careers which require advanced computer skills is staggering.
Norwich High School has taken a look at what courses could help benefit the students and prepare them for their futures. New technical advances have been added within the middle and high schools to foster a modernized learning environment.
Video projectors have been installed throughout the middle school and are now being installed in the high school. With these LCD projectors, teachers have the ability to present information to students more logically and legibly than ever before. Other new advancements include document cameras, advanced software, and the teachers will have laptop computers. Using this new technology, teachers can use a variety of software material and project it all at once to the students. Teachers can demonstrate how to search the Internet, format papers, show computer design and overall give a closer perspective about how to use a computer.
Whereas the high school used to offer typing classes to introduce basic skills, the computer lab is now filled with brand new computers. With the growth of today’s technical and software advancements, students are now being offered courses with much more detail and precision.
Visions is a new software program being introduced which allow teachers to block the Internet while teaching, see what all the children are looking at online and keep everyone in the class at the same pace.
Business teacher, Greg Bonczkowski teaches more specialized computer courses now and he has started courses in business communication. The new courses include Electronic Information Processing, Web Design and Computer Applications. The students will get the chance to explore Microsoft office applications. Students will search the Internet and learn the basics about business communication concepts. Students will use modern technology to achieve the ability to professionally write office letters, memos and do formatting.
“The school is doing a great job providing students with technology,” Bonczkowski said.
Superintendent Gerard O’Sullivan explained through the Installment Purchase Plan (IPA) the school district is investing money for the updated technology, programs and equipment in a responsible way. The money gets recycled through BOCES and back to the district and the expenditure will be covered over a five-year term.
Computer technology plays a big role in many different aspects of Norwich High School. The technology department has been aware of the growing need for students to know more about computer design and students have been doing it for a couple semesters.
Teachers still have the capability of teaching students the art of older machinery, and now they have the availability to show them the art of computer aided design (CAD) concepts.
The newest technical wave being introduced to Norwich students is online courses. Seniors will soon have the opportunity to explore courses online at times that better fit into their schedule. Students having the ability and time to do online courses will be offered the chance to try it within the year.
The program works with BOCES to introduce students to the world of learning online. With virtual classrooms, students will get an idea of how the process works to better prepare them for their own college experiences. Students attending colleges world-wide participate in online courses or receive degrees from online universities. O’Sullivan said the money is well-spent and he is confident the technology being introduced will help in many ways to improve the quality of learning.