[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 146 (Saturday, October 8, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: October 8, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
    MICHIGAN CITY SCHOOLS: USING TECHNOLOGY AS A CATALYST FOR CHANGE

                                 ______


                            HON. TIM ROEMER

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, October 7, 1994

  Mr. ROEMER. Mr. Speaker, last week the House passed the Improving 
America's Schools Act. This reauthorization of the Elementary and 
Secondary Education Act of 1965 will prepare our schools for the next 
century by providing Federal support to local school districts to 
invest in the technology and teacher training that is essential if we 
expect today's students to be competitive in tomorrow's workplace.
  I am pleased to announce that these innovations are already being 
instituted at local schools in Indiana's Third Congressional District. 
Last week, the Michigan City Area School District unveiled ``A Vision 
for Tomorrow,'' which is a computer system that will bring an exciting 
new approach to teaching and learning in our classrooms.
  Two years ago, Michigan City educators got together to devise a 
strategy that would improve teacher-student interaction through the use 
of technology. ``A Vision for Tomorrow'' goes beyond merely installing 
more computers in classrooms--it relies on specially-developed software 
to energize and expand the traditional way our students learn and our 
teachers teach.
  By the end of the year, ``A Vision for Tomorrow'' will be fully 
operational in four Michigan City elementary schools. Each school will 
have a computer lab and five computers will be installed in every 
classroom. What makes this system unique is that the computers will 
communicate through a local area network, which will enable students to 
use any work station in the school to complete an assignment. Teachers 
will then be able to access a student's computer files to correct 
homework or communicate a message.
  By the end of next year, all Michigan City elementary schools will be 
participating in ``A Vision for Tomorrow,'' and a wide area network 
will be up and running enabling students and teachers to communicate 
with their colleagues in other Michigan City schools. This school 
district looked ahead to anticipate the learning needs of its students, 
and made the financial commitment to purchase the necessary technology.
  Mr. Speaker, I commend Michigan City school administrators and 
teachers for their foresight in devising and implementing a technology 
strategy that I believe will produce an entirely new and productive 
student-teacher dynamic. It is exactly this type of program that we 
envisioned as we worked on legislation to truly Improve America's 
Schools, and Michigan City Area Schools are to be congratulated and 
emulated.

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