Past year has brought big changes to small school

Last year I wrote an article about technology at Mat-Su Career and Technical High School. Since then, there have been many changes with the tech at Tech.

CTHS has been open for just five years, but it has already made its mark on education in the Valley. When the facility opened, it featured state-of-the-art computers, technology usually inaccessible to high school students, and a dedicated faculty.

Despite all this, there were some problems. Students and teachers talked about the content filters on school computers. Many felt that these tools, while useful, also prevented students and teachers from accessing many useful resources.

Another common complaint was the lack of a public wireless Internet network for student use. Many of the classes at CTHS use computers in some way, and some students bring in their personal laptops. At a place more commonly known as “the tech school,” this was seen as a shortcoming.

One year later, a lot has changed at CTHS. Computer labs in the school have been refurnished, which means new computers for the CTHS students and staff. This upgrade was met with approval from many students, who appreciate the faster computers.

A common sore spot with teachers is the inability to access websites they feel would benefit students. This year, teachers were given the option to have fewer restrictions on their accounts, provided they sign a contract first. Many teachers who have opted into this agreement say they enjoy it.

They cite the ability to use more resources that might be seen as unconventional, such as websites like YouTube.

Another change in the school was that televisions in the commons area began to be used. The morning announcements are now televised and broadcast throughout the day. This frees up time in the morning and keeps students who weren’t at school during first period in the loop.

One other important change is the new public wireless Internet network at CTHS. Long promised, the wireless network began working earlier this year. This new tool allows students who bring in their laptops to more easily work on schoolwork. The Internet was filtered, which was met with grumbles by the student body, but this is understandable.

Though these changes may seem small, they show the unique ways that CTHS uses technology. These changes help set the school apart. Many are excited about what these steps forward mean in a world that’s becoming much more technologically driven.

Mark Okeson, principal of CTHS, had this to say: “These are all fascinatingly complex and educationally worthwhile endeavors, and we’re refining all of them to make our school and our students participants and leaders in our ever-increasingly technological world. It’s really fun and exciting.”

Sophie Harris is a senior at Mat-Su Career and Technical High School.