Monday, January 17, 2000
Computers enhancing class work
Technology adds dimension at Mason
BY SUE KIESEWETTER
Enquirer Contributor
MASON — Want to build a Web page that can be viewed with 3-D glasses? Ever wonder how “Hark the Herald Angels Sing” would sound as a heavy-metal or rap song?
Just ask the seventh- and eighth-graders at Mason Middle School. Although the district has spent no money to upgrade computers and other technological equipment since the building opened nearly six years ago, the students here are producing work only dreamed of several years ago.
For example, music teacher Chuck Kleesattel took outdated Apple computers slated for the garbage, rented keyboards and put together an electronic music lab to replace the “general music” classes. Instead of using pencil and paper to learn the difference between an eighth note and a whole note, students use keyboards and software to change the character of songs, then view the notes as moving bar graphs.
“They're doing some things to be proud of that are not being done in other buildings,” said Dan Mason, who heads the district's nine-person technology department.
Mr. Mason's comments came during a technology tour of the building with the Mason Board of Education.
Students and teachers demonstrated how technology is woven into the curriculum — from art classes that visit French museums via the Internet, to science students who produced videos on volcanos and earthquakes. There are about 2,100 computers in the district's schools — all connected to the Internet except those used by kindergartners.
Seventh-grader Nick Tillman spent four or five days making a Web site to present information he had compiled for a project on 3-D. Its six pages include a chat room, pictures to view with homemade 3-D glasses, and links to other Web sites. For the fun of it, he included an animated “magic eight ball” that answers questions.
When Superintendent Kevin Bright asked the ball whether there would be any snow days this school year, the response was, “It is certain.”
In Jerry Schrock's and Amy Comello's applied technology classes, the students can be radio disc jockeys or build a balsa wood rocket they can launch.
“We show them technology is more than learning how to use Windows 95 or 98,” Mr. Schrock said. “We're trying to keep them excited.”
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