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ExplorNet News
Headlines from ExplorNet CareerTech
Below are some of the top headlines and success stories from
ExplorNet's CareerTech programs in years past.
Teacher Outlines Use of QTL IT Resources
How can teachers use ExplorNet's Computer Engineering or Networking I resources to prepare their students for careers in Information Technology? ExplorNet materials are designed to give teachers flexibility. Wakefield High School teacher Phil Vice has been in the ExplorNet program for several years, and took the time to outline how he uses our materials to coach his students to success.
Big Honor for Johnston County Teacher
Congratulations are due to Todd Thibault of West Johnston High School (better known as "Toby-Juan" to his friends on the ExplorNet curriculum teams). 
The Computer Engineering and Networking teacher who's just entering his third year at WJHS has been named the North Carolina Trade & Industrial Education Association's New Teacher of the Year. He'll compete for NC-ACTE honors for the coming year.
Toby-Juan joined ExplorNet's family in Summer 2006, and quickly began playing a role in developing the program. As Johnston County VoCATS Coordinator Bill Ellis puts it, "Todd's a real go-getter." We're proud of you, Toby!
Honored Teacher Plans to Expand Moodle Use in 2008-09
Washington High School Computer Engineering and Business Ed teacher Kimberly Mayo was named NCDPI's Orus Sutton Business and Information Technology Teacher of the Year at this year's Summer Conference in Greensboro. Kim has been teaching ExplorNet's Computer Engineering for several years and is clearly doing a great job! She took the plunge into using ExplorNet's Moodle system in 2007, and tells us she's going to use it a lot more this year. Find out why in her ExplorNet CareerTech Blog entry.
Students Shine at Spring Competitions
Students from several schools placed highly in recent student organization competitions. On the ExplorNet CareerTech blog, there's a rundown of some of those who did best, and a look at why it's such a big deal.
New Teacher Trainings Set for Summer 2008
New teacher training events have been scheduled for Computer Engineering and Networking I teachers from any state! Sessions are scheduled in North Carolina, Arkansas, Mississippi, Texas and Kansas City, Missouri. The schedule is available here.
Moodle-Powered ExplorNet Classroom Site Gets Even Better
Scores of teachers and thousands of students are now using ExplorNet's Moodle-powered system. Introduced in 2006 and made more user-friendly in 2007, the system allows teachers to implement their classrooms online using ExplorNet's official Computer Engineering and Networking I resources. They're able to customize their courses, add resources, adjust schedules and use the system to meet their students' needs. Read more.
SkillsUSA Students Raise Funds for Sick Kids' Families
West Johnston High School Computer Engineering teacher Todd Thibault leads the school's SkillsUSA chapter. His students' public service project - collecting soda can tabs to help pay families' stays at Duke Hospital's Ronald McDonald House - drew attention earlier this year. This fall it has continued to grow beyond anyone's expectations. Watch and read coverage from Raleigh television station NBC17.
Moodle-Powered QTL Classroom Site Gets Even Better
Scores of teachers and thousands of students are now using ExplorNet's Moodle-powered system. Introduced in 2006 and made more user-friendly in 2007, the system allows teachers to implement their classrooms online using ExplorNet's official Computer Engineering and Networking I resources. They're able to customize their courses, add resources, adjust schedules and use the system to meet their students' needs.
Teachers can also connect with their peers in other schools through ExplorNet's online Professional Learning Community, part of the same online system.
Geof Duncan of Knightdale High School is the primary architect of the new system, and worked hard to make it easy to use. Teachers are appreciative.
"I am so excited about the use of Moodle in my classroom," says ExplorNet instructor Kathy Tarlton of West Montgomery High in rural Mt. Gilead, NC. "I have already started using it with both of my classes and the response I'm getting from my kids in class is great and unexpected. First of all, my kids already had a pacing guide showing assignments that were due and when they were due. For some reason, when I had they do their assignments in Word and upload them, they got more excited about doing them. Kids that have been trying to find time to play games have been getting assignments done first. That they upload their assignments, I no longer have papers to carry around and grade and my principal loves the fact that we're saving on paper. My hope is that my classroom can go completely paperless because of this project."
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Teachers Among Dozens Trained
Some three dozen teachers entered ExplorNet's Computer Engineering and Networking I courses during 2007. That number included teachers from a dozen Charlotte-Mecklenburg high schools, as well as our first teacher in the state of Kansas. That teacher, Ron Spalding of Olathe High School Northwest in suburban Kansas City, was so enthusiastic he's now set to lead a scheduled training in July 2008. That session is one of several set for Summer 2008. Other trainings are scheduled for North Carolina, Arkansas, Texas and Mississippi. See the schedule here.
North Carolina District Gets Dual Benefit from Program
Hank Hardin's students at Avery County High School were among the first to build or rebuild computers for their school. Ten years later, they're still at it. Find out why.
Two Dozen Educators Attend Arkansas QTL In-Service
Computer Engineering instructors from across Arkansas gathered to network and learn about A+ changes, Windows Vista, Perkins requirements, and the ExplorNet program. Read more.
2006
Workshops Draw Teachers; 2007 Training Dates Set
Dozens of QTL-affiliated teachers have taken advantage of the Fall/Winter Workshop Series, attending events in Raleigh and Asheville, NC, Natchez, MS and Fayetteville, AR. Participants learned about ExplorNet's latest resources, including the online Professional Learning Community and new interactive teaching tools. They've also gotten a glimpse at new technology and heard what fellow teachers are doing to build successful programs.
"It was most beneficial to be able to discuss matters with other teachers," says Kay Arnold of Purvis High School in Lamar County, Mississippi. She adds that Regional Facilitator Shannon Burts did a great job showing participants ExplorNet's new online features. "Thanks for all the time and effort you put in to make our jobs easier!"
Program Shows Vocational Teachers Ways to Engage
Vocational teachers often enter the classroom with strong understanding of the content they're teaching, but a real need for strategies that will help them deliver it to students. A new program designed to address that is off to a strong start in Arkansas. Read about it here in our New & Emerging Teacher Institute section.
Students Try Advanced IT Experiment
Computer Engineering and Networking teacher Errol Shook of Watauga High School in Boone, NC is nothing if not innovative. This school year he and his students have tackled technically ambitious projects including a 15-station open source computer cluster that "worked like a charm."
Why attempt something that technically isn't called for in the curriculum? Shook says he looked for a project that would help him address content that is in the curriculum in a very real way. "Even if you just used it to talk about DHCP, you've really shown them so much," he says, adding that he also illustrated the realities of topics like IP addressing, network components, and networking concepts as students worked on the cluster. "What you do is look at your curriculum and see how it applies in the real world," he says, "then find a project that meets the needs."
Collaboration Puts Teachers Ahead of the Curve
Keeping up with curriculum is especially difficult for Information Technology teachers, who usually are the only ones teaching their subject matter at their school. ExplorNet's Professional Learning Community of IT Teachers is a big help, says Phil Vice. Read why the Raleigh, NC teacher says that approach has put ExplorNet teachers ahead of the curve with a major Wake County Schools initiative.
New Teachers Enter Program
More than a dozen new teachers entered the ExplorNet program during Summer 2006 training sessions in North Carolina, Arkansas and Mississippi. They were introduced to crucial technology, classroom management and teaching strategies, QTL resources, new online features and more.
Communication's the Key, Says Tech Director
As school technology infrastructure becomes more widespread and more complex, some Information Technology teachers are discovering that ironically, it is becoming harder to get hands-on learning opportunities for students. But some school systems, like North Carolina's Burke County, are finding that communication can result in solutions that meet everyone's needs. Read why Burke's technology director changed his approach, to the benefit of students, teachers, and the district.
Students Soar during Spring 2006
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B.J. Copeland |
Students in ExplorNet-affiliated programs scored at SkillsUSA state level competition in North Carolina. B.J. Copeland of Williamston High was the first-place winner in the computer maintenance competition in Greensboro in April. Second place went to Jared Bowman of West Johnston, while Phillip Perry of Pinckney Academy placed third. Matthew Park of Chapel Hill High and Robert Bennett of N.F. Woods Technical Center rounded out the top five. Almost three dozen students competed.
And this is the time of year many Computer Engineering and Networking students sit for CompTIA's A+ or Network+ certification exams. Dana Gardner of Union County Career Center in Monroe, NC took six students to take the exam, and tells us all six passed. Now THAT'S a great success rate!
2005
Students Wow Adults at Summer Conference
Students from Jacksonville High wowed the crowd at this year's NCDPI Summer Conference in Greensboro. They showed video clips they produced in class, and 'case mod' products they're building in a business on the side! They joined presenters from Brevard County and Swain, Rowan, Martin, Orange and Moore Counties as presenters at this year's event. Read more about it here.
QTL™ co-sponsors national T+L2 Conference
The Centers for Quality Teaching and Learning is a proud co-sponsor of T+L2: Leading Learning to a Higher Level. The national education technology conference, spearheaded by the National School Board Association, takes place October 26-28, 2005 in Denver, Colorado.
From the school board member to the classroom teacher - T+L2 is the nation's only K-12 education technology conference designed for district leadership teams.
Teacher Profile: Pinckney Academy has "Wright" stuff
Moore County, NC teacher Kathy Wright stays extremely busy, building a tradition of success at student competitions, working on curriculum and training for ExplorNet, and a myriad of other leadership activities. Find out what keeps her going at such a hectic pace.
Teacher Makes Most of Computer Donation
A Chief Information Officer who had given computers to ExplorNet-affiliated schools in Arkansas years ago continued that generosity after taking a new job in North Carolina. When Blue Ridge HealthCare had dozens of surplus computers available, Jamey Pennington called ExplorNet. He was connected with East Burke High teacher Wayne Whaley, whose class made the most of the donation. Get the story from the Burke County Schools website.
Workshop Wows Educators in Asheville
A ExplorNet regional workshop in Enka, NC drew almost a dozen people, including teachers, technology staff members and media coordinators. Participants began the day with fantastic session on Troubleshooting led by Aaron Bishop, a multi-certified tech professional from Brevard College. Regional Facilitator Steve Kavli of Brevard High School arranged the session, and we appreciate the help from CTE Regional Coordinator Shirley Ray in arranging for the facility and lunch at the Western RESA in Enka!
Arkansas Students 'are at it again...'
Jim Ermert's students at Corning High School have yet another bit of community service under their belts. The story, in Jim words:
"Our guys are at it again! We received a couple of donated computers and refurbished them and installed them in our community center for the kids program." That program is open to children whose parents drop them off before school. Many go back after school, too. This is another great example of making use of donated equipment and giving students hands-on experience, even if the refurbished computers can't go into the classroom!
Mississippi Teacher to Present at National Conference
Natchez High School Computer Engineering teacher Shannon Burts, one of ExplorNet's Regional Facilitators for Mississippi, was in the national spotlight in July. She was selected to give a presentation for the 2005 National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) Conference, “Better Teaching, Better Learning, Better Schools,” in Washington, DC. She talked about her own program, the 2002 Mississippi Governor's Initiative, and how ExplorNet's programs helped her lay the foundation for her student tech support program in her school.
Martin County Students Impact Community - Again!
Charles Thorne's students at Williamston High School are used to getting out into the community. This winter they've helped with a project that'll provide new opportunities for children and adults alike. Read more.
Time-Warner Cable gift assists hands-on program
Time-Warner Cable is helping ExplorNet teachers everywhere through a $5,000 grant. The funding, presented Feb. 10 in Research Triangle Park, NC, helps underwrite the "Strategies for Success Handbook," a 2005 expansion of the "Building Your Dream Program" publication. The handbook, one of the resources provided for participating Computer Engineering and Networking teachers, shows how leading teachers have overcome common problems, and created new opportunities for their students.
2004
Regional Facilitators Make Connections
The Centers for Quality Teaching and Learning™ launched a brand new Regional Facilitator program in the fall of 2004 to provide a closer connection to teachers in its IT programs. A dozen lead teacher/facilitators have begun making initial contact with teachers at participating schools in three states. Read more.
Mississippi Student Gets District's Top Tech Job
Joey Herring graduated from Hattiesburg High School in 2003. Now, less than a year later, he is technology coordinator for the entire school district. Read more.
Teacher Urges Others to "Build Your Dream Program"
Turning a brand new program into a successful one can take time and patience - but the goal can be attained. Robin Migliorato of New Bern (NC) High teacher shares her encouraging story during a QTL™/ExplorNet workshop. Read more.
Arkansas Teacher Jump Starts Strong Program
Ashley Jones didn't let herself be intimidated by the task of getting started with Computer Engineering. As a result, her students benefited from some wonderful opportunities. Read more.
Arkansas Youth Named IT Student of Year
A Corning High School student has been named QTL™/ExplorNet's National IT Student of the Year. Cody McGrew won the honor as an external committee pored through numerous strong nominations. Another Arkansas student, Kyle Godbold of the Russellville Area Vo-Tech Center , placed second in the rankings. Jarrett Congleton of North Pitt High School in North Carolina ranked third in the national competition.
North Pitt in NC Named IT school of year
North Pitt High School was named IT School of the Year, while another North Carolina school, Williamston High School, was also singled out.
2003
Teachers use creativity to provide hands-on learning
Teachers in ExplorNet programs use a variety of methods to give students a chance to learn by doing. Read more.
Kelly IT Services Endorses 'Certificates of Excellence'
One of the nation's leading IT outsourcing firms has given the thumbs-up to the ExplorNet Certificates of Excellence program, saying it can help identify students who will make good employees. Read more.
Students Plan Lab for Senior Center
Corning High School's IT students have a history of making things happen. This time they've made life a little better for seniors in the community.
Read more.
NC Students, Teacher Build Innovative Lab for School
Students at Orange High School didn't just learn Linux in theory - they got hands-on experience and built a lab that will benefit their whole school. And they did it with throwaway computers and free software. Read more.
Mississippi Project Gets Earn National Attention
Scores of ExplorNet students and teachers in Mississippi build 6,000 computers in a matter of months, helping the governor's office complete a massive project. The result garners national attention, making Mississippi the first state in the country to have an Internet-connected computer in every classroom. Read the New York Times story, or see what Wired Magazine had to say about it.