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Show ! Stadlesits get 'Basic9 ccDmpeter edoc&tion j thought." "Our future is changing too last. 1 am overwhelmed at the need for students to take computer classes now for their jobs in the future,' he said. There will be a day when buying a home with a computer will be like buying a home with a heater, he said. In the not too distant future there might be a time when a teacher will be teaching from from behind a computer and keyboard. Each student would also have a unit at their desk, speculates Runolfson. An updated message about the student's progress or behavior may be sent home to the parents through the computer. "There will still be a need to have teachers to manage the class, but through the use of this technology students will receive a higher quality education," he said. One day students may carry a loose-leaf size computer to school. They will type in assignments which will be retrieved by the teacher. This could prove a very efficient mode of teaching. "I am real excited about the progression in this district," said Runolfson. "The principal here is very supportive. We would like to see others follow our lead." Currently the school has seven By GINA CALDWELL Chris Roberts, a sixth grader at Highland Elementary School, proudly carries a brown brief case around school. Why would a sixth-grade boy need a briefcase? The case doesn't ! contain English papers, math assignments or even baseball cards j ready for trading. Rather, it con- tains 20-odd cassette tapes, i They aren't musical tapes that one ! can slip into a "Walkman" tape player during a boring history class. These cassettes contain computer programs that can be loaded into one of the seven Commodore computers in the school's library. Roberts is one of the many students who is enrolled in Arlen : Runolfson's computer science class, a relatively new program at Highland Elementary. "One thing unique about the program here compared to other schools is that the computers are located in the media center not the classroom, said Runolfson. They are accessible to anyone who has the ability to operate them students," j teachers or administrators. ! Once a student has a command of the basic computer language, with I the personal computers at Highland that language is Basic, they can earn "brownie points" for good behavior and use the computers during free or even class time, said Runolfson. "I lecture to my math classes for the first 15 minutes of the period then allow them to work on the J computer for the remainder of the class time if they wish," he said. Their homework must be done for the next day or they lose computer priviledges. Students may work on drill and practice, tutorial, or simulation skills. There are over 1,000 educational programs available, ranging from geography, French, English and history to math, science, economics, skill, logic, and chance games. An economics program teaches a student how to set up a business, including buying and setting up an inventory, paying employees and applying the concept of supply and demand. Some word skill games including a modified form of "Hangman" have "fancy" graphics and special effects and sounds which "light" up the screen when the student has a correct response, said Runolfson. This makes it fun to learn. A teacher may send a student to the computer if he needs special help in a certain area of study. Students with a greater understanding un-derstanding of the system, like Chris, can create their own programs. Roberts, along with classmates Troy Baker and Chad Copir, have made several programs, including a home version of the popular arcade game "PacMan", a space game and a three dimensional search game. "Typing should be taught in third grade," said Runolfson, and more emphasis should be placed on data processing at an earlier age also. Runolfson and Roberts collaborated on a program which teaches typing skills and acquaints SIXTH GRADER, CHRIS ROBERTS, Highland, and classmate work on a skill game computer program. Students at Highland Elementary are taking computer science classes from teacher Arlen Runolfson. There are over 1,000 educational programs available to students and teachers. from a company. Each comnui!" I costs the school $710, "hopefully f will have enough money in 'e year's budget to buy two more ? said ' 6 If school computers were define as "experimental equipment" on Z federal level more companies vJm be more willing to donate the b deductable machines. Because of the computer scien classes, Highland's students haw the opportunity to master h, computer and it's language. Som are taking the opportunities morl seriously than others. "The computer's have helped m with my other homework," saido ' sixth grader. ' ne Another student made a program that did his math homework. He had to know and understand the math facts before he could plug them into the computer, said Runolfson. Runolfson is also teaching a community education class for adults in the Highland area who are interested in becoming literate in the increasingly popular language ol the computer. But it is with students like Chris Roberts that the computer scient program will probably be the most effective. Roberts, an advanced programmer, could probably pass any test in the district, said Runolfson. The sixth grader is taking advantage ad-vantage of his success, he is now a businessman in the market of selling his game programs to fellow students. He and other students like him who are learning about the intricacies in-tricacies of computer programming while still young should have a head start in a society increasingly dominated by the influence of artificial ar-tificial intelligence. the student with the typing keyboard. The program has helped some students ieam to type up to 30 words per minute already. "I think handwriting will be a thing of the past," said Runolfson, "I know this sounds a bit controversial but, I think it is true." Eventually school assignments, letters and papers will be typed in computers and will be printed out on processors, speculates Runolfson. "Some people got upset when the sundial became outdated but technology found a better way to tell time. Computers are our 'better way,' "he said. "I think that we can teach the basics reading, writing and arithmetic so much better with new technology. The definition of 'the basics' is based on older |