Teen network to celebrate anniversary
The electronic system
has enhanced area technological advances
By ROWENA PLETT
Staff writer
The TEEN computer network will have been in operation 10 years this fall. It began operating in September 1993. Sharon Tatge of Herington is executive director.
TEEN stands for Technology Excellence in Education. The network links five school districts — Herington, Centre, Marion, Hillsboro, and Peabody — by way of underground fiber optic cables.
A board of directors is comprised of one representative from each school board.
Every high school in the network has a special TEEN classroom known as the ITV (inter-active television) room. It is equipped with five computer monitors, each one linked to a different district. Four overhead monitors allow instructors to observe distant classrooms.
From the ITV classroom, a teacher at one site can instruct students at all five sites. Students also can interact with the teacher.
Examples of shared instructors include Marion's Jim Versch teaching art to Centre students; Centre's Chad Tischauser teaching physics to Herington students; and Peabody's Doris Unruh teaching German to students in several districts.
During the first year, 134 students participated in eight class offerings taught by 10 instructors. Participation has grown steadily. In the 2002-2003 school year, 422 students were enrolled in 22 classes.
School staff members receive technology training through the network, and the TEEN board sometimes holds its monthly meetings via the network.
The TEEN network is available to others in the community after the normal school day and during the summer months for continuing education courses and meetings of nonprofit or profit organizations.
A TEEN activity request form is available for filing requests with the director, who has an office in the Herington district headquarters.
Internet access
Many enhancements to the system have occurred during its existence, financed through district fees and various state and federal grants.
During the 1995-1996 school year, a data network was added to bring in the Internet. It extends to other school buildings, school board offices, city buildings, and city libraries.
According to Tatge, there are approximately 1,200 computers on line in the five districts.
TEEN has its own website which is available to everyone who has access to the Internet. Http://www.teen.k12.us is the address.
Craig Albrecht of Herington, son of Erano and Dorothy Albrecht of Lincolnville, is the webmaster. He keeps the homepage updated with new resources, links, and local information.
Site links include course descriptions, class schedules, personnel, TEEN policies, email, career planning, an elibrary, teacher resources, and World Book online.
Analysis
Superintendent Demitry Evancho of Centre USD #397, Lost Springs, has been involved with TEEN since its inception.
He believes that without TEEN the rural school district likely would not have become connected to a wide-area network.
The ability to downlink via satellite has enlarged the system, he said, and now the state is looking at a statewide network.
"Because of TEEN, we are postured well to connect to it when it becomes a reality," he said.
Evancho also noted that TEEN has allowed for an expanded curriculum. "The airwaves are full," he said.
TEEN makes it possible to provide instruction through the Internet in courses which appeal to only a few students.
The network has required collaboration between the districts in order to make the system work correctly.
With the addition of Marion County Special Education Cooperative to the system, more cooperation is evident.
"We've been very compatible and have a division of responsibilities," Evancho said.
Superintendents serve as advisers, the board of directors sets schedules, and teachers provide instruction. Student feedback also is important, Evancho said.
Each district pays a fee each year for upgrades, expansion, and maintenance of the system.
Evancho foresees a day when electronic instruction could play a part in school consolidation. He calls it "electronic consolidation."
"As students become more technologically advanced, they can learn through electronic teaching, and more instruction will be given that way," he predicted. "Electronic teaching may be the primary delivery system of instruction in the future."
