THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, September 10, 1995 TAG: 9509080186
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 24 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY HOLLY WESTER, CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: Medium: 84 lines
WHILE SCHOOLS ACROSS the nation are jumping on the information super highway, First Colonial High School is making its mark on the map locally.
Less than two weeks ago, the Beach school became the first high school in the nation and the first school in Virginia to use wireless communication to improve the education process.
In a special partnership with Sprint Cellular, a pilot program called ``ClassLink'' enables 140 teachers, administrators and staff to use individual cellular phones to do everything from reporting discipline problems to confirming a student's schedule instantly from their desks.
``We hope to improve communication between parents and teachers, to make the school a safer environment and improve classroom instruction for students,'' said Stephan B. Charton, principal at First Colonial.
``We are excited about it,'' he added. ``Teachers are using the phones already.''
ClassLink is part of a nationwide effort by the Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association's Foundation for Wireless Technology to bring wireless technology to the classroom.
``This innovative new program brings teachers and students closer to the leading-edge communications tools the business world has been using in recent years,'' said Jeff R. Gardner, regional vice president for Sprint Cellular. ``These tools have made the business world more productive and successful, and we expect the same effect in the classrooms at First Colonial High School.''
First Colonial was chosen based on specific criteria. According to Gardner, the company was looking for a school with a diverse background - both racially and economically - and one that had a track record of incorporating technology in the education process.
``First Colonial is a leader in that regard,'' Gardner said.
All calls made on campus by teachers, administrators and staff will be free. The project will cost approximately $230,000; Sprint Cellular is picking up the tab, so there will be no cost to the school system.
Although First Colonial and Sprint Cellular have been working on the program since last spring, users just recently received hands-on training. Each participated in an hourlong session, and was given a training manual, explaining ClassLink and instructions on how to use the cellular phones.
Many participants were not familiar with cellular phones, so instructors had to teach the very basics - from how to hold the phone to how to dial it.
``They were students for a day,'' said Gardner, who oversaw some of the sessions. ``They were really excited.''
Gardner said phones were constantly ringing during the training sessions, because users were calling one another to familiarize themselves with the technology. ``We had some trouble keeping them in line,'' he joked.
Since First Colonial previously had no phones in the classrooms - as is the case of 90 percent of schools in the country - staff members ``feel like they've been given a tool that will help them,'' Gardner added.
To monitor the impact of ClassLink, each faculty and staff member will be asked to fill out a weekly tracking sheet that outlines the number of times the system has been used and for what purpose.
Ruth M. Barco, librarian and one of the ClassLink coordinators at First Colonial, is one user who is confident the program will prove worthwhile. She sees the cellular phones as a ``big time-saver.''
Barco added, ``I can sit at my desk and get an answer to a question or solve a problem by phone.''
Rustin B. Godfrey, who teaches biology and environmental science, said ClassLink will ``free us up to be so much more productive.'' Although he's never owned a cellular phone, he said now is as good a time as any.
He added, ``We gotta do it for the future.'' ILLUSTRATION: Staff photos by MORT FRYMAN
ABOVE: Mary Benson of First Colonial High's library staff uses a
cellular phone provided by Sprint Cellular in conjunction with
``ClassLink'' to place a call to a security number.
LEFT: Juanita Felton enjoys a laugh at her own expense while trying
to figure out how to work the cellular phone. Her First Colonial
co-workers were quick to point out that Felton is the ``gifted
teacher.''
KEYWORDS: VIRGINIA BEACH SCHOOLS CELLULAR PHONES PORTABLE PHONES by CNB