ACCESS Lab at MGM High School

I had no idea what an ACCESS lab was, let along, that it was being utilize in high schools in Mobile County before this assignment was given. Marlena Marsh, Kelsey Volzy, and I visited an ACCESS lab in a local high school in the area. Before we entered the lab I was thinking, “where are the computers ?” There were just long tables in the classroom. To my surprise, these students are provided with lab tops that were stored in a metal cabinet until needed. Lab tops in high schools, what’s next? I’ll tell you what’s next or shall I say what is already in the making?We were able to meet and talk with the psychology instructor at Mary G. Montgomery High School. His name was Roger Rose. His personal and general insight on the program ACCESS brought about many interesting and amazing points to surface. I began to think out the box quickly and understand the true meaning behind the “burp back” concept of teaching. From my understanding of things, lower and higher education will some day not exist in the classroom. Students will be able to log their computers at home and complete assignments. With the new equipment out there, they will be able to view their teachers online with web cam or listen to the lessons on pod casts.
He had an ELMO machine which was responsible for demonstrating manual work. The input on this machine was projected onto a large flat screen for the entire class to view. This machine would eliminate chalkboards and chalk. It would allow students to get a better view with little effort. He showed us something called a Kodak hub whose purpose was the same as remote control. It controlled all the equipment in the room and accessed other classrooms who were connected to this outlet. He showed us Murphy’s ACCESS lab through this system. He said it allows him to teacher psychology to students at MGM and Murphy through live internet connection. He can view the students while the students are viewing him. He said he teaches to several students through this live web because many high schools do not have a psychology teacher. This method could save our school system a lot of money. He also showed us ACCESS teaching tools on the web and suggested other teaching software to use such as Komposer, Hot Potatoes and FTP surfer. These software programs are all free for teachers to view and learn from.
During Mr. Rose’s tutor he suggested we go and meet with another teacher at the school who specialized in pod casting. Her name was Mrs. LeGrone. She pod cast all her lectures and has them accessible on her web page for her students to listen. She is taking pod casting with power points presentations to a whole new level. She said the only problem with this teaching method is that all her students don’t own a home computer. She said next year she will put her presentations and pod casts on DVDs because she believes every household owns a DVD player. This teacher is definitely thinking outside the box. You will find her page very interesting. Just click here.