Teachers attend technology conference [The Mount Airy News, N.C.]

Aug. 06--This week teachers with Surry County Schools had the opportunity to attend the school district's second annual technology conference to learn more about using technology in the classroom.

The theme of this year's conference was "iLove Technology," and the event was hosted at Meadowview Middle School. Teachers for prekindergarden through fifth grade could attend the conference on Monday, middle school teachers on Tuesday and high school teachers on Thursday. The teachers could attend five different sessions during the day. The topics ranged from SmartBoards to podcasting to Google.

Sherri Thompson is a drafting teacher at Surry Central High School, and she attended the conference both years.

"It's well worth our time," said Thompson. "We've got a lot of different things that are offered to us."

She attended workshops on podcasting, Open Office and SMART systems. She said, "I can see where all of it will be beneficial ... Everything was pretty interesting to me."

She believes the conference will be a valuable event for teachers to attend year after year, because she said a variety of classes are offered.

"If you find something during the school year that you don't understand, they usually offer something on it," Thompson explained.

April Swarey teaches English at Surry Early College High School of Design. She said this year's conference was "even better" than last year.

"The classes I've been to are more succinct and more productive," said Swarey.

She attended sessions about cooperative learning and technology, PhotoStory and integrating technology with English classes. Since she teaches English, the final session was the most relevant to her.

"I use (technology) fairly often in the classroom, but my goal this year is to use it more often," Swarey remarked.

Shannon Snow taught high school for several years, and she taught a few of the workshops this week. She said, "I think it was great. They were all eager. They see the need. They see the urgency."

Pat Widdowson, assistant superintendent for Surry County Schools, said, "I've not seen more intense participation ever ... You would think school was starting in 15 minutes, they were so excited."

Snow said one person told her that they liked this year's conference better because they now had the tools to use their technology knowledge.

She said technology was a "huge" part of teaching these days. "We're working toward seamless integration."

Thompson said, "It is a very big part of what we do, and more and more every day."

Diane Beane, principal at East Surry High School, said, "(Technology) is huge, and it's growing year by year in our schools. Our goal is to have our students ready for the 21st century."

Of the conference, Beane said, "It's an experience for us that so many school systems don't get ... We receive top notch instruction from our own people."

She also said the conference was very well organized. Each participant got a booklet with information on each of the sessions.

Organizers estimate that at least 90 percent of teachers in the school system attended the conference. Last year, the conference also was attended by more than 90 percent of the teachers. This year some teachers even came from other school districts to learn.

The technology conference helps the school district reach one of its primary goals, which is to "attract, train and retain quality personnel with skills to deliver 21st Century content." The Surry County Schools Board of Education recently voiced its approval for a new proposal that requires teachers to complete one technology credit, or 10 hours of technology professional development, for licensure renewal. Those attending the conference gained six of the needed hours to fulfill the requirement.

"I'm just so proud of our school system for being proactive ... The teachers need to know the technology as well as the students do," said Jennifer Scott, director of professional development for the school system.

The conference was sponsored by SMARTER Systems, COECO, SouthData, CDI, J's Office Supply, Lin Taylor Graphics, Southern Community Bank, AlertNow, Advanced Electronic Services, CDW-G, Surry Telephone Membership Corporation, Wal-Mart, To the Point Embroidery, Lowe's Home Improvements and Thirty-One.

Contact Meghann Evans at [email protected] or 719-1952.

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