NWA-PCUG 11/2000 NewsLetter Article 18861 N. Hwy 112, Springdale, AR 72762-9303 Ken's Korner TidByte Dell Computer Provides Web School for Teachers by Ken Fermoyle Teachers returning to classrooms this fall have an opportunity to become students themselves. Dell's Web School is ready to help them learn to use the Internet for research, lesson plan development and classroom instruction. The Web School, a virtual classroom launched in mid-September, was developed by the computer maker after a recent Dell-commissioned survey of third, eighth and 12th-graders. The study found most students are more likely to learn about the Internet from their parents at home or from trial and error than they are to learn about it from teachers in school. The study also found students are predisposed to use the Internet for education and Research. The Web School, located at www.dell.com/thewebschool, is part of a broader company initiative to help prepare students for success in the digital world. According to the University of Texas Center for Electronic Commerce, Internet jobs increased by 36 percent last year in the United States to account for 2.5 million new jobs. As businesses continue to build their businesses on the Web, demand for tech savvy employees is expected to rise dramatically -- becoming a competitive issue for businesses of all sizes and an opportunity for students with technology and Internet training and know-how. "With 95 percent of all public schools wired for Internet access, we believe teachers and schools are our best hopes for training our students and overcoming social or economic barriers to Internet access," said Bill Rodrigues, vice president of Dell's education division. The Web School includes a self-paced Know the Net course, developed by Dell and based on similar training provided to all Dell employees. Know the Net for Teachers helps beginning Internet users expand their knowledge of the Internet and its classroom uses. The Web School also contains links to useful teacher resources such as the ePALS Classroom Exchange and Blackboard.com; education news; products and services for teachers and schools, and information about Dell grant programs. Know the Net for Teachers takes educators through a 20-question quiz that helps them master the history and navigation of the Web. It also introduces them to important research sites, lesson plans, and teacher and student community groups. Dell's K-12 customers, including teachers and school district officials in Round Rock, Texas, and Nashville, Tenn., helped develop and test the site. Round Rock and Nashville are Dell's principal U.S. locations. "This is a valuable resource for teachers, particularly for those with limited understanding of the Internet and even less time to learn about it," said Barbara Logan, instructional technologist for the Round Rock Independent School District. "Teachers can take the challenge in about 30 minutes and it's available round the clock." (Author's note: We can only applaud this example of enlightened self- interest by Dell. Teachers, students and the computer makers all stand to gain from it. We can only hope that other high-tech firms see fit to develop more such innovative programs to help teachers of today prepare students for the demands of technology in the world of tomorrow. - K.F.)