Source: Midland Reporter-Telegram

For the first time, Texas schools will have software and textbooks to help teach technology to students in grades kindergarten through six.

Midland Independent School District currently has curriculum for youngsters in grades eight through high school, but has to "do-it-yourself" for kindergarten through sixth grade students, Director of Technology and Information Management Betty Fowler said. Right now, seventh-graders don't have computer courses.

Fowler and four technology teacher trainers had their first session with Dorothy McAbee, sales consultant, career and technology with Pearson Prentice Hall in Coppell at the administration office Wednesday.

Another training session is set for July 29 with Learning.com Easytech for students in kindergarten through fifth grade, she said.

"I hope to be able to come back to you in a few months after we've been trained," Fowler told school board members at Tuesday's meeting.

The technology teacher trainers will fan out to the district campuses and train teachers the new software.

Also, teachers who taught computer literacy will work with other teachers on teaching students how to do a PowerPoint presentation for a book report, for example, she said.

"I'm very excited about it because we've never had these materials before," Fowler said. "... It's given us a boost."

"Now we will have more standardization. That's probably the key to why I'm so excited," she said.

Lead technology teacher trainer Ann Dixon agrees. "It will be wonderful for teachers to have the opportunity to integrate technology into their programs. This will provide materials they've needed for a long time," Dixon said.

"I like the materials we've adopted. I think they will make it easier for teachers to do the things they need to do to help students learn to use technology as a tool for learning and for life," she said.

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