Our Staff
Our three technology resource teachers Chad Leggett, Emily Armour and Bizzie Cors support classroom technology integration and provide staff professional development throughout the nine district buildings. Charged with keeping close to two thousand computers up and running, VoIP phone services and maintenance on a multitude of technology devices are our Network Manager Chuck Davis and Technician Eva McMillan. Our Instructional Materials Center Secretary Phyllis Smith maintains records and accounts for the department.
2011-2012 Department Projects
Wooster HIgh School Blackboard Initiative
In an effort to modernize the way we reach our students, the Wooster City School District recently joined the Learn21 Collaborative. During the summer of 2011 twenty Wooster High School teachers began learning Blackboard Learn 9.1 and will be developing online and hybrid courses during the 2011-2012 school year. It is the goal of the staff and administration to offer students multiple platforms for learning and accessing class content beyond the four walls of the classroom.
Edgewood Middle School Wireless Project
A Cisco wireless network will be installed at Edgewood Miiddle School beginning January 2012. The upgrade to a completely wireless building will enable students and staff to fully utilize the mobility of laptops and other mobile devices without worry of dead zones, low network threshold or other connectivity issues.
Edgewood Middle School Computer Upgrade
During 2nd semester 2012 four mobile labs at Edgewood Middle School will be completely replaced and four others will receive additional units. When done, the building will have 9 mobile labs each with 25 MacBook laptops. The student to computer ratio at Edgewood will be nearly 2:1 with this upgrade.
Elementary 21st Century Mobile Labs
In the fall of 2011 each elementary schools received two new mobile labs. With this addition student to computer ratio improved to 4:1.
Profile of Wooster City Schools Technology
Hardware
The Wooster City School District is a Mac District!
Students in each school building use mobile lab laptop carts with wireless airports for Internet connection. Our special education classrooms, Library Media Centers and computer labs all have iMac desktop computers. Our certified teaching staff members are issued MacBook Pro laptops.
Interactive Classroom Initiative
Classrooms in our district continue to receive SMART Boards (elementary) or wireless slate/CPS bundles (secondary), document cameras and projectors to help liven the environment and increase student participation in learning.
In addition to district technology funds many other generous donations from local foundations and building PTOs have made this program a great success. For example, in the first year, we increased the total number of SMART boards from 5 to 23 at the elementary level. All of this new equipment is paired with a full year of professional development and support from our district Technology Resource Teachers (TRTs).
WHS Campus Wireless
In 2011 a Cisco wireless network was installed on the Wooster High School campus. In addition to 24/7 wireless access for students, staff, community members and visitors we also opened access and now allow students to bring their own technology to school. Classrooms are buzzing with student technology use!
Professional Development
Our department offers various forms of technology professional development. In addition to full classes eligible for graduate credit from Ashland University, we offer individual sessions ranging from personal productivity to classroom integration. Staff members in some of our classes have begun to access class content online via Moodle. Each year, the Wooster City School District takes a group of teachers to the eTech State Technology Conference.
