LAPLACE – Several St. John the Baptist Parish public schools will be spotlighting the role technology plays in the educational process next week as they celebrate Louisiana’s Technology Week.

“Technology has become so ingrained in every aspect of our lives. It is impossible to think of providing a quality education for students without it,” said Technology Coordinator Robert Brown.

He noted that Gov. Mike Foster proclaimed Technology Week for all Louisiana public schools as a means of improving public awareness about technology in the classroom. Brown said students plan to demonstrate activities and projects that stress the value of technology in their studies.

For example, Leon Godchaux Junior High will show how the CO-NECT on-line program is helping teachers and students improve student achievement. Most schools will feature a special technology activity each day of the week.

“This is always an exciting time to learn what our students are capable of accomplishing because of their advanced knowledge and understanding of today’s technology,” said Superintendent Michael Coburn.

St. John Parish’s public schools rank among the state’s top five for the number of multimedia computers to students. The district currently has a ratio of 2.8 multimedia computers with Internet and network access per student.

“Technology has become a vital component in the district in the overall effort to improve test scores as well as to provide students with skills needed in the workplace and college,” Coburn said.

Brown said teachers throughout the district are increasing the use of technology in nearly every aspect of their daily lesson activities. Moreover, the school system recently incorporated the Standards Master skills testing program and the Surpass program that provide detailed comprehensive data with regard to evaluating the students’ strengths and weaknesses on state and national standard assessments.

The district is also set to train more than 100 teachers this year with the Louisiana INTECH program, which is a 56-hour intensive professional development activity that helps teachers better integrate technology in their classroom activities.

Recently, the district added INTECH II Science, which is a 32-hour program that assists teachers with the use of technology in their science lessons, and it will make available INTECH II Social Studies to teachers this summer, Coburn said.