For many people – those in the 35-and-up age group – technology in the classroom brings to mind different colors of chalk, the occasional Texas Instruments calculator and the always impressive overhead projector.
Times have really changed.
“I have about 200 computers on my network across three buildings,” said Diane Woodard, Technology Coordinator for the Superior School District. The three buildings – the elementary, junior high and high school -- now have web-wireless capabilities, about 100 handheld computers, four Windows XP computer labs (the high school will convert to the new Vista operating system in a few weeks), network printers, Wi-Fi laptops, ceiling mount projectors … the list goes on and on.
“We are actually, for a school of any size, one of the top in the state,” said Woodard. “We take a lot of pride in that.”
For her work and dedication in teaching and technology over the past 15 years, Woodard was named Educational Technology Leader of the Year by the Northwest Council for Computer Education (the Northwest Region covering Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana and Alaska) at the NCCE conference in Spokane March 8.
“What an outstanding individual,” said Superior Superintendent Bill Woodford. “It’s rare, in education, that kids respect an educator as much as these kids do with Diane.”
Her work in the Superior School District has shaped the area’s three schools into top-notch, tech-savvy learning institutes, but that fact, nor her recent award, didn’t happen overnight.
Nearly 15 years ago, when Woodard first started teaching in Superior, the cache of technology machinery was minimal, at best. A dial-up modem with six PC’s hooked into them and some old Apple computers were about the extent of technology in the district at the time. Since then, Superior schools have become the envy of the state where technology is concerned.
“We are so much further ahead than other schools in Montana because of Diane,” said Maureen Jones, Superior High School’s head grant writer and Communication Arts teacher. “Her philosophy is to get as much technology to the teachers as you can and therefore she’s willing to go that extra step forward and give those teachers training so that they feel confident.”
Woodard repaid Jones’ compliments, saying that none of what Superior has achieved in the technology field could have been accomplished without Jones securing grants. She also touted the support of the school board and the community as a whole.
Woodard started her teaching career 15-years ago after receiving her B.A. in business education from the University of Montana. She taught all of the business and computer classes at that time.
About eight years ago, the Superior School District was awarded the TALES Grant which allowed her to go part-time as a teacher (teaching two advanced computer classes) and start working as network administrator and a grant writer.
Now, after receiving the TICTOC grant which Jones wrote four years ago, Woodard trains teachers in Superior District (as well as several other districts) on technology.
“Adults just don’t understand the way kids think now,” said Woodard. “We can no longer get up and teach six weeks of PowerPoint, because PowerPoint is way behind them. Kids today are multi-taskers and teachers need to change the way they think and find ways to tap into this technology with their teaching and engage these kids.”
She said that Superior, with that forward-looking approach to teaching, is ahead of the curve in Montana.
She said that one teacher at Superior had her father – a retired MIT professor who resides on the East coast –live in her classroom via webcam, providing direct instruction to her students in Western Montana.
“That’s not something you see in most of the schools in this state,” she said. “The students are so engaged by that and they will retain what they learn.”
Woodard got to see some of today’s technology up-close –real close – and personal when she received her award March 8. As she gave her acceptance speech as the Educational Technology Leader of the Year, her live image was projected onto a huge screen behind her as she spoke in front of 2,000 of her peers.
“I’ve never seen myself that big,” she said. “Not sure I ever want to see myself that big again.”
While she gave her speech she thanked many people, but maybe not as much as she would have really liked. During this interview Tuesday, she mentioned one of her very dearest friends, Jones, who she said pushes her and has encouraged her academically and professionally.
She also spoke of her sister, Terri Barclay, who teaches in St. Regis and empowers Woodard and is a huge part of her life and then spoke of their mother, Birdie Warnken, saying that she has always been a huge inspiration.
“She has always been a real inspiration to me,” said Woodard. “She raised us three older kids by herself, had three jobs and she has always pushed me and she raised some very strong-willed kids.”
Woodard was nominated for the award by Allan Labbe, principle of Superior High School, who was required to write an essay on the reasons Diane should receive the award. He also submitted two letters of support for the nomination.
Woodard made her way to the 2007 NCEC in Spokane in the second week of March for a four-day conference, not knowing that she would be receiving the award. On that Thursday, she was honored as the Educational Technology Leader of the Year by the Northwest Council for Computer Education.
“I had no idea,” she said. “No idea whatsoever. I was completely surprised.”
She said that before the winner was announced and she heard her name, she was listening to a keynote speaker when he started speaking about the Leader of the Year Award.
“He was talking about this person who was going to receive this award and they mentioned the TALES grant (a grant which helps improve teaching and learning with technology) which I was a part of, but there plenty of people in the audience that were my mentors that certainly fit that description as well,” she said. “A lady sitting in front of me turned around and said ‘She’s sitting right behind us,’ and I just started crying, I had no idea.”
While Woodard touts the advantages of understanding and applying technology into the classroom, she said there are still some challenges. The biggest issues surrounding high-tech technology in the Superior schools come in the form of filtering, or keeping inappropriate content off of the computers. She said that is an ongoing battle and that often she will work from home--at times at 4 a.m.--working on the school's filters and anti-virus software.
“The biggest obstacle is keeping the learning environment safe for the students, whether it be viruses, spamming or inappropriate content,” she said.
Woodard also mentioned instant messaging on computers as a problem -- the aspect of cheating on exams – but added that even troublesome technology for teachers can be turned into effective tools for instruction.
Each spring, Woodard takes a class on a field trip called “Tech-in-the-Wild” where students bring their cell phones and they text message Google (a popular search engine) for answers, they use handheld computers with sound files of nature, they use GPS systems and walkie-talkies and use them all for learning.
“If we tap into those technologies we are going to engage our students even more,” she said.
For a look at a few of the goodies that technology and the hard work which Woodard and the Superior students have created, log onto the district's website at http://www.sd3.k12.mt.us or check out http://www.communitywalk.com. At the prompt, “Where do you want to start exploring?” enter “Superior, Montana” and get a wonderful look at the town and its outlying areas.
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