Getting Wired: WLMS's Success is Featured at the ASBO Conference

I had the privilege of presenting at the Fall Conference for the Association of School Business Officials' this past Friday with two of my HCPSS colleagues Mike Borkoski and Jenny Elam. We shared how Wilde Lake Middle School's wireless and netbook pilot had been conceived, developed and successfully implemented during the last school year. We shared how thrilled students, staff and community members are about the success we have experienced due to this pilot and how this project is now being duplicated in other county schools.

I thoroughly enjoyed attending this conference and finding out more about the business side of public education. For more information about this organization and other events they hold, check out this link: www.asbo.org

Wireless and Netbook Equipped!

I am happy to announce that Wilde Lake Middle is now the first HCPSS school to be completely wireless. In addition, we are the first school in our county to receive 180 netbooks to be used by students during school. WLMS is piloting the use of wireless technology and the use of netbooks to determine their feasibility for future use in other HCPSS schools. The Related Arts Team and each of the content teams will have a mobile cart of 25 computers to use for instructional purposes. The computers should be ready for student use by the end of next week.

This infusion of technology helps with our school's instructional vision of bringing (HEAT): Higher Order Thinking Skills, Engaging students, Authentic problem-solving and the use of Technology. Our vision has been adapted from the work of Dr. Chris Moersch.

I plan to share more information as our pilot program progresses.

If your school is already using netbooks and you have advice to share, please drop me a comment or two...