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USD 408 teachers study up on technology in summer class years ago

Sports reporter

This summer it was time for Marion-Florence USD 408 teachers to be the students.

Marion High School art teacher Jim Versch rounded up 10 eager teachers July 17-28 into a summer class designed to make them better technologists.

The class, called, Intel Teach to the Future, was met with some questions.

"This was a class I wasn't sure about," third grade teacher Julie Trapp said. "I thought when it was offered I would love to do it. Then it happened to follow three weeks of summer school. But now through this training I am really glad I did it. It was great."

By the time it was over, the 10 teachers learned more than they thought, and the students in the district should benefit from the teachers' time spent in the classroom.

The teachers received free use of a laptop during the year and PDC points, for taking the class.

Versch said the teachers who took the class, Trapp, Sheila Baldwin, Sarah Waddell, Marj Sandberg, Bill Darrow, Tina Kraus, Gary Stuchlik, Grant Thierolf, Kelly Robson, and Jennifer Owen, all had a great time.

Each teacher was trained in 10 modules that offered "face-to-face, hands-on instruction on the essentials of effective technology integration," according to the class manual.

The modules included learning in areas such as creating multimedia presentations, web sites, support materials, publications, and more.

Versch said this wouldn't be the final class.

"This was our first Intel course," he said. "We have plans to offer one during the school year and again next summer."

The class is regarded as bridging a technology gap between students and teachers.

The teachers completed a unit portfolio during the week that consisted of samples related to the modules.

Versch was pleased with all of their performances in the classroom, and sees no sign of this class slowing down.

"Our goal is to have all teachers trained through the Intel course," he said.

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