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Show EDNET is Coming to Davis Schools ....compressed digital video Can you imagine a teacher of Russian located in a classroom at Clearfield High working with language students sitting in classrooms at Bountiful, Viewmont, Davis and Layton high schools, all at the same time. Imagine curriculum specialists in F armington Aseventh graderfrom South Davis Junior, Sheri Petersen, won a $5,000 travel prize in the American Express Geography competition. With the help of teacher Les Foy, she researched the Kem River Pipeline and its controversial placement of a gas line over the mountain in Sheris neighborhood. pre- senting training sessions to hundreds of attentive teachers sitting in all seven high schools. Questions and answers are also possible. Think of the possibility of Superintendent Richard Kendell scheduling a conference with students parents to discuss concerns about discipline in schools, with all 47,000 cable subscribers listening (Ch. 8). EDNET is providing the technology and programming to make it all possible. Technology comes in many packages and is revolutionizing the way students learn and teachers teach. The EDNET system is a component which has transmitted classes through a system of microwave dishes to isolated rural schools enriching their limited resources. When each school is equipped with their own unit, it becomes interactive - questions may be asked and answered with tire video automatically switching to the speaker. L Davis Scores Big at Academic Olympiad Davis Academic Olympiad students won nearly every award and $46.200 In scholarships tn this year at USU. Gold medals, four-yescholarships and a trip to Germany were won by corn-petiti- ar Jason Anderson from Layton High, Andrew Plewe from Vlewmont High, Cheryl Packham from Clearfield High and Jonathan King from Davis High. Bountiful High School with Coach Cal Harris was the High Point School. Joshua Isom scholarand Andrea Clinger also won four-yeships with high point medals. Jonathan King, Todd Call, Julie Schulties won medals and one-yescholarships. Genene Hill coached Davis High and Nona Horsely coached Viewmont High to division high school team medals. Davis District will be the first area capable of for interactive audio-videEDNET through telephone lines fTl). The University of Utah is the hub of the entire system and Davis transmitting two-wa- v o District offices the hub for Davis schools. The unit, two telephone line is installed and a camera with user contelevision screens, a built-itrols and sound equipment are coming. When the T1 lines are connected to each high school sometime this year, programming from the State or District will be transmitted to any or all of those schools. When each school is equipped with their own unit, it becomes interactive questions may be asked and answered. There are other practical applications. EDNET training courses for teachers and other staff will reduce travel time. Adult education classes will be transmitted to the county jail where inmates are earning their diplomas and beyond. University classes will be available. The use of Channel 8 will expand the EDNET communication for all cable subscribers. Fortunately, the lines are able to carry four programs at one time. L n L Compressed digital video is the term for what actually travels over the six telephone lines required for transmission. Initially T1 lines will be installed at the Davis County jail, DATC, the WSU extension office in Layton and the University of Utah Stoker School facility. The grand plan is that every high school in the State will be part of the network, at a price tag of has been funded by $7 million. The Davis hook-u- p EDNETs legislative appropriation. Richard Siddoway and Richard Lemon have led District efforts in establishing Davis as the first district to benefit from the T1 line connection. Mr. Siddoway has chaired the Utah Network for Instructional Television for two years. ar ar Layton High, "Bine Ribbon Representative Layton High was one of five secondary schools selected by hie Utah State Office of Education to represent Utah in the national competition for Blue Ribbon status. The Program Is sponsored by the US. Department of Education. The symptwnlc.band from South Dayt? Jwlfir High performed at the UnlversitvofUtah In a clinic for band teachers from around the state. They were honored as the only junior high band Invited to play music that teachers considered purchasing for their bands. The band, directed by Robert Campbell, also played music written by Barry Kopetz, the director of bands at the University of Utah. Layton High and Viewmont High were two often schools qualifying for the final rounds of the State Automotive Contest A total of 38 schools competed. Buick-Web- er Thousands of Hours Devoted to Improving Learning ...staff commitment to students Students arent the only ones adding to their knowledge and skills. For educators, learning is a lifelong process. Teachers, administrators and other staff are continually engaged in upgrading performance, improving instruction in the classroom, making content relevant in this information age, and broadening understanding of issues. The figures are impressive. According to Claudia Seeley, who directs staff development, 4.569 registrations were processed last year for workshops and classes offered for credit bv Davis District. There were many additional hours of training given in sessions not offered for credit. Computer lab managers, teaching assistants, preparation time assistants, secretaries, school foods workers, custodians, bus drivers, counselors, testing proctors, mentor teachers, department members, teachers groups all participate in training of various kinds during the school year. Some training is required or advised to meet legal requirements, other training moves staff toward higher degrees, certification in new areas, or personal development. Training in CPRfirst aid, emergency procedures, safety issues, diversity and eqnew curriculum standards the uity, list goes on. self-estee- Thiokol Supports Young Astronaut Clubs... NASA Brings Teacher Resource Center in Davis Science got a big boost in Davis County Schools, thanks to Thiokol Corp. Not only did Thiokol sponsor and arrange for a visit by the colorful NASA van which houses their Mobile Teacher Resource Center, but they gave a check for $ 1 ,240 to support astronaut clubs. The NASA Mobile Teacher Resource Center, was available to 125 teachers to share NASAs vast resources for use in science education. Videotapes, slides and printed materials developed during NASAs exciting ventures into space bring space science alive for students. About 90 of the time, training in business and government occurs during the day. In education, the reverse is true. Almost 90 of courses, workshops and training sessions are outside the school day on employee time, and theyre not paid. Individual commitment levels of educators are deep because benefits to students are ouicklv evident. Success in previously difficult areas, a rise in student performance, changes in attitudes, and feelings of being renewed make the time and energy spent in continuing education worthwhile. Last year, g following training for elementary teachers about new methods for teaching math, math scores were higher than predicted. Teachers are interested in improved techniques and seek information about cooperative learning, thinking skills, integrated learning, new science methods, computer assisted instruction, art and music. year-lon- Thirty district teachers are midway through a masters program being taught in the district by University of Utah professors. Six Davis schools have been selected by the University of Utah as Teacher Education Sites, where students aspiring to become teachers spend many hours observing master teachers, team teaching, and doing joint research projects with staff members. Weber State University also places many student teachers In Davis schools. Davis Teachers Earn Credits, Math, Science GiftedTalented Programs Language Arts Technology 1992-9- 3 ArtsHumanities DrugAlcoholHealthy Lifestyles Instructional Processes 589 146 410 841 176 594 1,823 Quarter Credit Replaces Semester System A change has been made in the awarding of credits for high school classes. Where students are accustomed to semester credits, work will now be evaluated for the permanent records four times each year. With the more frequent assessments, it is expected that students who tend to coast" through their work will realize their involvement is essential. Layton High, traveled to the Galapagos Island to study its ecological environment, along with Doyle Norton from Viewmont High. Bryant Madsen, N o o o o o o Robert Hillier of Sunset Junior was selected as a participant in an astronomy and Space Science Summer Institute. The three-wee- k institute was presented by the Astronomy and Physics Education Department at the University of California at Berkeley. |