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Missoula County Public Schools unfurl $500,000 PLATO computer software to help students keep up with their studies.

Computers may take more of a leading role in Missoula classrooms as the city’s largest school district rolls out a $500,000 software system this semester.

By: Rob Chaney of the http://www.missoulian.com

After a year of funding delays, Missoula County Public Schools http://www.mcps.k12.mt.us/ has started training teachers to use the Programmed Logic for Automatic Teaching Operation, or “PLATO”, system to help students keep up with their studies. MCPS grants and curriculum specialist Cecilia Barr let the first tutorial for more than 30 teachers in the Sentinel High School computer lab last week.

“It’s an immensely powerful program,” Barr said. “It’s going to take us a while to figure it all out.”

A federal allocation of $500,000 paid for the program’s installation and first year. Additional years will cost $10,000 for upgrades. The school district may also have to upgrade its communications links to take full advantage of the software.

“We were approached by Senator Conrad Burn’ office http://burns.senate.gov/ about the grant for the program.” Barr said. A similar grant of $650,000 went to Bozeman’s school district http://www.bozeman.k12.mt.us/ in 2004. Frenchtown and Choteau are also experimenting with some parts of the Plato Software.

Although the Missoula money was initially planned to be available last January, the check didn’t arrive until late fall. Teachers at last week’s training session will in turn train their colleagues as building computers get the software installed. Eventually, it should be available to more than 800 teachers and staff throughout the district.

There are actually two big software packages. Plato is filled with games and exercises for students to improve their skills. That includes basic math and reading drills as well as enrichment programs for advanced students. Teachers can dip into Plato’s supply for a classroom lesson or assign a project tailored to a specific student’s needs.

The second package is called Orion. It’s more for teachers to diagnose how a student’s abilities match the standard he or she should be reaching. For example, fourth-grade students midway through the year should have a firm command of looking up words in a dictionary and understanding the definitions. Orion can tell a teacher if a student’s performance is on track or behind, and then search through Plato’s offerings and other textbooks to find remedial lessons that would help.

Teachers are just beginning the training phase for Plato. Barr said the Orion materials won’t be operative until next year.

MCPS has three goals for the system, Barr said. One is to provide more materials for students with learning difficulties, poor performance or special education needs in math and reading. Another is creating credit-recovery options for students who’ve failed classes or are homebound by illness or expulsion. The third is to provide exploratory courses for gifted and talented students interested in subjects like calculus, chemistry, literature and physics.

Teachers are learning to sift through the software’s options and find projects suitable for specific students. They can also set up small learning groups for parts of a class to try one project while other students work on something different.

Barr said one advantage of the system is its interactive presence with students. The programs grade themselves and offer suggestions for further inquiry.

“Instead of giving a student a worksheet, this gives him immediate feedback if he’s right or wrong.” Barr said. “The teacher makes the assignments in Plato, but who’s really in there? Kids will be in there.”

MCPS gifted and talented education coordinator Catherine Schuck helped research the Plato program before accepting the grant. She expected the program to help keep up with the federal Adequate Yearly Progress testing, but hoped MCPS would keep better materials for those able to work above their grade level.

”I think there’s going to be a place for some kids (with Plato),” Schuck said. “But it’s more for the norm or under-norm kids. It’s certainly no answer for gifted students.”

ON the other hand, the system does appear to appeal to students raised on video games. MCPS hardware/software specialist Shannon Bradshaw said the wide range of options and alternative projects will be useful.

“It’s a way to keep their interest in the way they’ve been raised,” Bradshaw said.

As MCPS gets more familiar with the system, some teachers may consider using it to update parents on class progress. Bar said it could be sued similarly to a phone answering machine network the school district used a few years ago, only more detail and interactive features. For example, teachers could post notice of extra-credit projects that students could do online from home.

“In the end, it’s just one more tool in the teacher’s toolbox,” Barr said. “But it helps individualize instruction. And we really have to look at individual students to ensure we’re meeting No Child Left Behind standards.”

Reporter Rob Chaney can be reached at 523-5382 or at [email protected]

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