Thursday, Feb 15, 2001
Business Editors
AUSTIN, Texas--(BUSINESS
WIRE)--Feb. 15, 2001--Students from across the state are meeting at
the Texas Capitol in Austin on Feb. 15 and 16 to offer high-tech industry
leaders and legislators a firsthand glance at how technology is improving
education.
The focus of
the event is to promote lifelong learning by emphasizing the importance
of keeping technology in the classrooms and an ongoing funding commitment
for educational technologies. Fourteen school districts will be represented
with up to four students from each district. Students will be involved
in a variety of activities, including demonstrating technology programs,
attending capitol and legislative events, and highlighting research
made possible by technology.
The fourth-annual 2001 Texas Capitol Schoolhouse is being attended by
State Senators Teel Bivins, Gonzalo Barrientos, Rodney Ellis and State
Representative Paul Sadler and will give students and teachers an opportunity
to illustrate how technology has improved education in the public school
system.
"Technology
has become a part of everyone's life," said Steve Kester, AeA Texas
Council Director of Legislative and Public Affairs. "Technology
will continue to grow at a rapid pace, and that means that teaching
students how to use technology and teaching teachers how to integrate
technology into the classroom is more important than every before."
The first Capitol
School House event in 1993 started a Texas tradition among legislators,
educators, high-tech leaders and students. For the first time, links
in the learning chain were able to come together and see their hard
work come to fruition.
"I sponsored
the first Capitol Schoolhouse eight years ago to help educate the legislature
on the importance of teaching students how to become familiar and comfortable
with technology," said Senator Barrientos. "The advances students
and teachers have made since then are amazing -- these kids can run
circles around many adults when it comes to using technology."
"We've
come a long way since the days of a No. 2 pencil and a Big Chief tablet.
When I drop by the Texas Capitol Schoolhouse and watch the student at
work, it's a good reminder for me and my colleagues that, by investing
in technology, the Legislature is investing in the future of young Texans,"
said Senator Bivins, Chairman of the Senate Education Committee.
"We need
to give our teachers the support and tools necessary to ensure that
our children learn the skills to not only succeed in our high-tech future,
but to thrive," said Senator David Cain. "Technology is a
powerful tool that links our children to a much broader world."
Other sponsors include: AeA, Apple, Texas Education Agency, Telecommunications
Infrastructure Fund, AMD, Motorola, M/C/C, Texas Instruments, Intel,
National Semiconductor, Hewlett Packard, Microsoft, Advantage Graphics,
Fullbright & Jaworski, Barrett Kendall Publishing, Internet Schoolhouse,
Lightspan and Scientific Learning.
