The Global Horizons Technology Initiative is a visionary plan to implement technology integration throughout our school. The purpose is to provide students daily access to the technology tools that will enhance learning. In order to make the best use of our resources, the model used by Red Bank Elementary is one that involves two teachers, each with a group of students, sharing two classrooms. One class is set up as a computer lab with a computer for each student. The other class is a more traditional learning environment. Teachers alternate using the two classrooms so that both groups of students has access to one-to-one computing fifty percent of the time. This model ensures that students have adequate time for the books, hands-on activities, manipulatives, and social interactions that are vital elements of a well-rounded global education, in addition to the digital literacy skills that are necessary to adequately prepare our students for the future.
This initiative began with a pilot class in 2003, with two fifth grade teachers sharing space, students, and computers in a program called the 21st Century Classroom. As the program has evolved to encompass other grade levels, the model has been adapted to meet the needs of the participating teachers and students. For the 2006-07 school year, there will be a total of 6 Global Horizons classrooms in grades 2-5 that will be shared by 11 teachers. Approximately 350 students will participate in this program.