School begins Tuesday, but teachers are already back in class preparing for the new year.
Back-to-school technology training workshops for teachers are in session this week at Rolla High School to enhance classroom instruction and technology integration.
Brenda Spurgeon, Instructional Technology Facilitator for Rolla Public Schools, is a teacher of teachers.
 Teachers face many challenges. One of the biggest challenges facing them is keeping up with technology so they can keep students’ attention.
Spurgeon is teaching teachers new ways to teach in their classrooms and new ways to make life easier for themselves and their students and parents.
Students are so accustomed to technology from video games, computers, and cell phones that it’s challenging to keep their attention with a chalkboard and a textbook.
Today’s generation of students have spent their entire lives surrounded by technology. It’s difficult for them to imagine a life before texting, or e-mail, or instant messaging.
“This year the ‘first year’ teachers are really moving quickly through the technology training,” said Ginger King, Director of Technology at Rolla Public Schools.
King said much has changed during the last 10 years.
“I can remember when it took so much longer for us to teach the new technology because we had to go over even the most basic things. The teachers coming in today are already so familiar with computers and technology. Many of them have grown up with it. Ten years ago, that just wasn’t the case,” said King.
King also said having Spurgeon to work with the teachers during the last year has had a tremendously positive impact. Spurgeon works with the teachers in group sessions as well as one-on-one.
“She was the key piece we were missing in the past. Our technology integration wouldn’t have been as successful without her,” said King.
All new teachers must have at least eight hours of technology training. Teachers in workshops Monday, received four hours of training in the morning and those who have smart boards in their classrooms had an additional hour and a half of  smart board instruction in the afternoon.
The smart board is an interactive white board that mirrors what is on a computer in the classroom.
Students enjoy learning with the smart board technology, and it’s easy for them to pay attention with the boards sitting front-and-center in the classrooms.
“At this time, we have 135 smart boards in the district,” said King.
Another great technology feature for parents is called “parent connect.”
Parents can access student grades by visiting the district’s Web site at www.rolla.k12.mo.us/ and click on “parents & students” and then click on “parent connect.”
No longer do parents have to be surprised at the end of a quarter with their student’s grades. With parent connect they can log in and see how a class is going for their child whenever they want to.
King explained at a school board meeting how helpful this tool can be to help keep students focused. When parents realize there is a problem earlier, rather than later, more problems can be resolved before the student gets too far behind.
Part of the training teachers received this week included gradebook training so that teachers could be certain their gradebooks are set up correctly and maintained accurately.
“Several years ago the board made technology integration a Top-five focus. We want to make sure our students leave here prepared for what lies ahead of them,” said King.
There are few jobs available today where some amount of technology training isn’t needed. Rolla Public Schools are making it a priority to be certain their students and their teachers are getting everything they need to become familiar with all of the technology available to them.