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Show Computer class offered students and teachers Because the Uintah Basin school district is ahead of other districts in the state in using computers in the classroom, two teachers, Cindy Brough and Mary Swanson, have been asked to train other teachers in the state how to use computers more effectively. Cindy has been teaching in the Uintah School District for four years. She is a J resource teacher at the Junior High School; graduated from the University of California and has been using computers in her classroom for the past year. Mary, has taught in the district for two years as resource teacher at Maeser Elementary. She is a graduate of University of Utah and has been using computers for the past four years. The teachers workshop, which is funded by a state grant, will be taught from July 20 to 31 at the Uintah High School. Teachers will come from Wasatch, Wayne and other counties including Uintah to receive instruction. Prior to the workshop for teachers, Cindy and Mary will conduct a four week class for students entering second grade through twelfth grade. The workshop will not only help children who are behind in their studies, but is also for students who want to keep up their learning skills. It will also be interesting to students who would like to learn more about computers or learn to write programs. Available will be computer software in mathematics, reading, english. spelling, computer programming and other programs. "I have data to show that my students learned more during the past year when they used computers tluin" they did the year before w hen I was not using computers as a learning aid." said Mary. The program will be very in dividualized. For example the student who is having difficulties in spelling could feed the spelling curriculum for his age level into the computer and take his own test If the words he wishes to review are not on an existing program, he will receive help on how to fel the words he needs into the computer Mary has written several programs herself that fill in where existing programs are lacking Presently she is working on one in beginning fractions. The program has several purposes, to help children learn more effectively and to make a program which will be useful to other teachers, then to train teachers to use computers to an advantage ad-vantage in the classroom When asked what the advantages of using computers were. Cindy and Mary responded, "The main advantage is that the student can work at hi ; own speed. Others arc the immediate feedback. The computer immediately tells the student if his answ er is correct or not. Also the computer is a great motivator. It can be a helpful tool for the teacher to use to encourage good behavior. Most students really enjoy using the computers," the teachers agreed. |