The Bluffer - Red Bluff, CA
Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/107347
"Winter Formal" "Noble Nutlings" Page -Page 5 -Page 4 Volume CXIV Issue 9 February 1, 2013 Serving Red Bluff High School since 1901 Students abuse technology Student Vue Marissa Chase Editor-in-Chief With document cameras and projectors located in almost every classroom, the problem begins with how RBHS and its students use the technology they have, rather than the quantity of it. "The problem with technology is that we need to find a better balance of good that helps rather than hinders," said Jon Jones, a teacher in the business department. The cell phone policy and the lack of wireless internet, however, limit students' access to technology. The cell phone policy strictly states that cell phones are not allowed out during the whole instructional hour, not just when the teacher is speaking. According to Melanie Burke, about eight cell phones are taken away a week, but she has had as many as ten in one day. This is where the problem begins because, according to Jones, students need to learn the appropriate use of technology. "Focus in the clasroom should always be on what the teacher is doing," said Jones. According to him, technology, including cell phones, should not prohibit this from happening. Dave Lopes, the director of technology, believes that there are a lot of policy issues to End of the Grading Period Vs overcome. He concluded that students should be taught what is acceptable before being instructed on a list of what they can and can't do. Wireless internet is currently in the process of being implemented according to Lopez. Problems with censorship are halting the process because the school is responsible for the people they provide internet access to. Students, being "technologically savvy," have far greater technology with their tablets, cell phones, and laptops that would compliment the wireless internet perfectly, according to Jones. Again, the problem is learning not to abuse it. "We can't empower people who don't use good judgement," Jones stated. At this school. most teachers, as seen below through the pie charts, think that technology, in some form or another, would greatly help student achievement. With the graph to the right, taken from a survey in 1999 by Jones, teachers at another school not only found little value in technology, but had no use or knowledge for it. Referring to the graphs below, Kevin Penner, a math teacher, said, "Student motivation, family support, good time management, and effective teaching strategies...Any one of these alone would dwarf the effect of a particular improvement in technology use." The end of the grading period will be Friday, Feb 15. To get a better idea of what their grade will look like, all students have access to Student Vue. Parents wanting to get an early look at grades can sign up for Student Vue in the office. Facebook B elow is a graph made by Jon Jones from 1999 showing how frequently teachers (from a different school) used various forms of technology. In comparison are three graphs situated at the bottom of the page showing teachers from RBHS and their veiws on the correlation between technology and student achievement. Girls Soccer Schedule Change The girls soccer teams, JV and varisty, will no longer be having a game today against Enterprise. Due to miscommunications, the game is now rescheduled for Monday, Feb. 4. The JV game begins at 4 pm and varsity at 6 pm. Senior Night for the varsity team will also be held that night.