Equal Access

As I am reading all of the forums on audio and video recordings, I find that I am becoming irritated that the only Smartboard we have in our school is in the library and it isn't even hooked up yet. The new Prince of Whales School directly across the stadium from us has a Smartboard in many classrooms. I know that our school is likely slated for closure soon, but where does that place the students who attend our school now, and what of the teachers. I understand the financial implications of allowing equal access to technology boardwide are staggering but what are the academic and social awareness costs of not doing so on our students. My students had many questions for me about why P.O.W. could have Smartboards in their classrooms and not us. I can tell you that in the staff room there were many teachers with the same questions. We would like to be innovative and bring something new and fresh to our classrooms as well. As the new I.T. this year I will be ensuring that the library Smartboard is up and running and I will try to make sure that any classroom teacher who would like access to the Smartboard has a time period allotted, in cooperation with the Librarian and our Principal. Baby steps I guess.

Sonia