Capital Campaign

A 21st Century classroom is active, outcome-based, research-driven, student-centered and globally engaging. Students learn by doing, rather than simply by observing, in high-access classrooms. They become more interested in their studies, retain information better, collaborate with students in and outside of their classes, and learn valuable technology skills at the same time.

This approach to learning – a classroom that reaches far beyond its four walls – requires equipment to facilitate use of modern technology. A 21st Century classroom replaces chalkboards with Smartboards (interactive whiteboards that can display predetermined content, as well as record what's written/drawn on them); replaces overhead projectors with Elmos (a document camera which project anything – from textbook pages to live frog dissections - instead of simply 2-D transparencies); replaces out-of-date textbooks with current, computer-ready digital versions; and replaces limited library research time with 24-hour access to online materials.

Most importantly, it narrows the achievement gap between the "haves" (the students with computers at home and smartphones with Internet at their fingertips) and the "have nots" by offering a better educational experience for all students in school.

Situated in Omaha's downtown, Central High School serves more than 2,500 students, and is the largest high school in the State of Nebraska. The racial composition of the student population is 37% African American, 43% Caucasian, and 15% Hispanic American and 5% Asian American, Native American and other. More than 65% of Central students come from outside Central's designated attendance area.

Online testing is one of the primary means of assessment in the state. Currently, the state reading and math tests are completed online; the online state writing test is being piloted across the state for implementation in 2011/2012; and the state science test will be online in 2011/2012. To prepare students for the online state tests, the district utilizes online assessment tests in many content areas. Because Central students are unable to practice these tests on the computer, it is no surprise that they are unable to show their full potential through an unfamiliar testing environment. What's more, the school must close the library and computer labs for several weeks to circulate students through testing, further limiting their access to research and technology resources.

Omaha Public Schools (OPS) has afforded access for all students, parents and teachers to the online ANGEL (A New Global Environment for Learning) Management System, which features class syllabi, textbooks, discussion "rooms," document storage options, assignment drop-boxes and current grade reports. Central sees 25,000 hits to this site per week, but those hits are limited to families with computers at home, or minimal school computer time. We are not yet able to take advantage of this great resource and OPS is not in a position to fully equip each high school in the district with wireless Internet access in the foreseeable future, particularly considering cuts in the district's state aid. Central High School will be the "21st Century" pilot for all Omaha Public Schools.

A 21st Century system will draw fresh perspective from teachers (current and new) and help them connect with students during class time and beyond. Teachers will be able to tap into new resources through distance learning, allowing students to interact with others outside of Central and benefit from various specialized instructors.

There is no question that Central High School students would thrive with a 21st Century education. In the short-term, they will be more engaged in the classroom and better prepared for online testing. Into the future, they will have the skills, confidence and developed interests to enter post-secondary education or the workforce and see great success as contributing members of their communities.

Moving Central High School into the 21st Century is a one million dollar project – from building the infrastructure to putting a wireless device in all students' hands. This project includes wireless Internet infrastructure, broadband to support it, classroom equipment, and teacher training. Omaha Public Schools, Central High School, and the Central High School Foundation are all expending effort and money to support the project.

Omaha Public Schools will pay the pipeline and bandwidth expenses to connect Central with the TAC (Teacher Administrative Center) Building, and has already provided the ANGEL Learning Management software system. Central High School will commit to purchase classroom equipment and fully train building staff through its district budget. The Central High School Foundation has committed to raising the remaining $400,000 over two years to build the wireless infrastructure needed to support 21st Century learning school-wide.

• Online testing – now one of the primary means of assessment in the state – will not be a foreign concept to Central students. Students will learn on the computer, practice on the computer and, therefore, have the increased potential to test well in reading, math, writing and science on the computer. With Central's current technology, the library and computer labs are unavailable for general student use for up to months at a time during school-wide online testing. Wireless access will make it so all students can be working online regardless of where they are in the building.

• Chalkboards will be replaced with Smartboards (interactive whiteboards that can display predetermined content, and record what is written and drawn on them).

• Overhead projectors can be replaced with Elmos (document cameras that can project anything - from textbook pages to live frog dissections - instead of simply 2-D transparencies).

• Textbooks that quickly outdate themselves will be replaced with current, digital versions.

• Students' minimal library research and computer lab use time will be supplemented with unlimited access to Internet and digitized materials, and student-specific teacher support in and out of the classroom.

• The ANGEL (A New Global Environment for Learning) online management system, featuring class syllabi, textbooks, discussion "rooms," document storage, assignment drop-boxes and current grade reports, that has been implemented district-wide will become an invaluable resource for parents, teachers and students.

• Students will be more engaged in the classroom.