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(0 7am , den fiblic school siu by Debbie Stull WALKERTON»CompuIetS am more than just fun; they’re proving to be a valuable lear- ning device. Waikcrton Public School received an ICON computer lab in September. and “it's been an interesting challenge it) keep up with the kids," said John Finâ€" . lay. Finlay is the school's sine administrator. He's responsible for any questions and problems teachers and students may have with the computers. If he's unable to answer or solve the problems. he takes the problem to the Bruce County Board of Education, “Some of the kids know some of the computer programs bet- ter than l do. Ijust don't have the Lime to master them all." The school is the last of the Bmee board's schools to have a computer lab set up. The lab has 15 work staLions. one com- puter and printer. “This means all the work stations can be using different programs at the same Lime." Every class, from Kindergar- ten to Grade 8. gets at least two sessions a week in the lab. . There are a variety of pmgtams available covering topics can» ging from history to English and math to science. Also available are different levels of word processing. and the kids can use these programs when they're ready. /9% 77.91% “Jen .1, . , WITH A LlTl'LE HELP FROM Grade 5 teacher Michell;- Napper, Heldt Baker is learning the proper tinger placement tor using the keyboard. (Skull photo) 17/ Students learn proper typing skitlé I, tS’iéarn on c TONY LEUDKE, a Grade 5 student at Walkenon Publlc School, says computers are lots ol iun to learn wlth. (Stull photo) In one history program. which covers the Rebellion of Upper Canada 1830-44. students guide a fatnin through 7/ HEAD ALOUD WEEK was celebrated at Mother Teresa Schoo " readers. Murray Elston, Bruce MPP. reads “Bea and Mr. Jones to the Grade 2 class. ompulers the time period by making decisions about events going on. “My whole theory about word processing is that you get u lot more output [tom the student. Kids find it much less ofa chore to write, yet they still have to be creative. Only the mechanics are less of a chore." The development and produc- Linn of software programs are paid for by me Ministry of Education. A teacher, interested in obtaining different programs. can get. them from the board office which has all the programs. However, the corn- puter discs have limited space so the school cannot have all programs. said Finlay. Each teacher spends time with his or her class in the computer room. In order to familiarize parean erh the computers. Finlay held three sessions in October so parents could see what the kids are dealing With. The 30 patents attending the sessions were in favor of the computers. said Finlity. Students are not learning computer programming at school like they did about 10 years ago. Instead of the big deal being how to write a program, the emphasis lS now on learning programs. he said. . w llasl woek wlth the help we 39 01 70 guest