Teachers being left behind on the information superhighway shouldn't panic: help is on the way. A new two-year grant for School District 5 will provide "technology technicians" to assist teachers around the obstacles presented by the expanding world of technology.
The grant was approved by the federal government and allots $200,000 to the district. More than $50,000 is provided for technology equipment such as TVs, laptops and videos to "bridge the gap between what we have and what we need," said vocational teacher and bill drafter Shirley Spurgeon.
"I would like to use more technology in my classroom but I have to learn how to use more first," said language teacher Lois Sirucek.
"Everyone is clamoring to keep up with the technology," said librarian Jon Kaps who served on the grant committee. The grant "is our way of meeting the need."
Technology facilitator Chris Deister of Missoula has been hired to work with district computer specialist Ryan Overbeek and to assist teachers in using the new electronic equipment.
"I'm organizing in service training," said Deister. "I'm providing training for teachers, and also looking at setting up a district-wide help desk."
To teachers who were raised in the age of a pen and paper, not a laptop and e-mail, technology assistance can be a comforting thought.
"Many programs are pretty intricate and you really have to know how to use them," said government teacher Mark Dennehy who has incorporated technology into his classroom. "You're going to run into problems that can be difficult to answer."
Said Dennehy: "I think it's wonderful that teachers can ask for help."