About Our Freshman Tech Literacy Program... North HS has a commitment to improve student learning through the implementation of an integrated technology and information literacy program. By January of their freshman year, all students participate in technology and information literacy instruction integrated through their English and science curricula. Teachers in all other curricular areas can expect that their students will know how to research, cite bibliographic information, and use Microsoft Office programs. This initiative preserves precious teaching time as teachers in other areas no longer have to teach those skills. In other high schools when there is no coordinated technology and literacy program, teachers find themselves teaching technology skills in addition to their own curriculum in order to ensure that the students can successfully complete assessments. Often students must endure multiple teachers teaching the same skills they already acquired in another class.

The media specialists and North HS teachers have been collaborating and refining this important program for five years. Skills such as "Power Researching" and professional presentations using Powerpoint are taught within the context of the curriculum. There is a seamless process of learning that includes a final assessment utilizing all the technology and research strategies presented during the unit. English and since teachers work collaboratively with the media specialists to pinpoint areas of the curriculum that would provide natural vehicles for this instruction. The media specialists teach the special skills necessary to reach standards "just in time" in order to help the student successfully reach both technology and content area standards. Instructional booklets with step-by-step instructions are provided to each student as a reminder of lessons learned. Students are encouraged to keep the booklets for ready reference as they are asked to demonstrate their skills in other courses.

Integration of technology skills and teaching can be seen in the freshman science program. Students work through a unit on genetic diseases. Student learn about specialized science databases, reference materials, and citing sources and then create a two-sided informational brochure of their assigned disease. The brochure incorporates data, charts, graphics, and a works cited page. Students become very adept at using the Publisher program to present their ideas in a graphically appealing and professional manner.

As we work with other high school media specialists through out the state and the country, we find that there are very few successful programs such as ours. Many schools have required technology courses which teach important skills but always in isolation. Research shows that true integration into the curriculum is the most effective use of technology to improve student learning.