By Jon Mayhew

Lincoln County School Leaders Discuss Present, Future Technology

LINCOLNTON – Over the past couple of weeks, school leaders in Lincoln County have been talking about the issue of technology within the school system. These talks are the beginning of a technological vision of new superintendent Dr. David Martin.

According to Martin, the first step towards improving technology in schools and introducing new technology begins with knowledge; knowledge of what technology is located in which schools.

“I want to know what technology is currently available in the schools and I want to know what the school infrastructure is, whether it’s fiber optic or wireless,” said Martin, adding he wants equity regarding technology in the 23 Lincoln County schools.

Caption: Dr. David Martin uses technology as the superintendent of Lincoln County Schools. He is hoping to be able to pass on the benefits of technology to students within the system.

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One concern Martin had regarding technology is how to fund upcoming purchases of equipment. Specifically, Martin said consistent funding needs to be in place.

“Depending on the budget and funding stream, we may choose to lease technology,” said Martin. “In a few years when the technology is obsolete and turns old, we can get new funding.”

With leasing, the school system would not have to have all of the money for new and/or upgraded technologies all at once. According to Martin, it’s also important to have a technology plan.

“I’d like to have a plan for technology in place then work on how to fund it,” said Martin. “We’ve become a society of the quick fix in technology and we need to work at a planned approach over a period of time.”

The goal, according to Martin, is to put technology in the classroom, thereby integrating it into the curriculum. Martin said he knows the value of technology in the schools due to having integrated different forms of technology into the Henry County, Va., school system when he was superintendent there.

“The county was losing textile and manufacturing jobs and technology was the bridge for us in the schools,” said Martin, adding in Henry County he put laptops in the hands of fourth and eighth graders as well as high school students.

The plan was to not only educate students but their parents on the use of the laptops. Martin said by training both the students and parents, parents would gain another marketable skill to utilize when looking for work.

Martin added he understands giving students in Lincoln County laptop computers can prove to be an “expensive proposition.” Therefore, one technology Martin is considering is the use of SMART boards.

According to Wikipedia.org, a SMART board is a large, touch-controlled screen that works with a projector and a computer. The projector places the computer’s desktop image onto the interactive whiteboard, which acts as both a monitor and an input device.

Users can write on the interactive whiteboard using digital ink or use a finger to control computer applications by pointing, clicking and dragging, just as with a desktop mouse. Buttons launch a popup keyboard and a right-mouse-click menu for more input options.

“The best place to start utilizing technology is kindergarten through fifth grade,” said Martin, adding technology can reach students on all different levels. “Students can touch and massage the data.”

Martin said according to the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (DPI), Lincoln County Schools isn’t where it needs to be regarding technology. Martin wants to make sure technology is equal in all of Lincoln County’s schools.

“The plan we develop will involve working with teachers, school administrators and the Board of Education,” said Martin. “Besides leveraging technology, we need to leverage money to the max.”