CENTER TO TEACH TECHNOLOGY; A.V. FACILITY TO BOOST ACCESS FOR EDUCATION.

Byline: Karen Thacker Special to the Daily News

When Los Angeles County was found to be in the bottom 10 percent of the nation for the number of computers per children, its Office of Education set out to push it to the top of the list.

Part of the goal will be realized when a technological learning center for Antelope Valley teachers, parents and students opens in June.

Parents and youngsters will be able to learn how to use computers for homework and accessing the Internet. Teachers will gain a training and resource center, including ``how to identify what you want to teach and what's the best technology to accomplish that,'' said Jean Fuller, superintendent of the Keppel Union School District, where the center will be located.

``Now we're getting computers in our schools, let's make sure they're used for reading, writing, listening and speaking,'' she said. Curricula will be developed and taught to teachers.

``Unless they're (computers) tied to educational achievements, then they aren't useful,'' said Margo Minecki, Office of Education public relations coordinator. The county would like to become the national leader in the use of computer technology in the classroom by training 60,000 teachers.

Keppel will set up the building and computers under the direction of the Office of Education and will implement curricula through a $40,000 grant from AT&T and discounted software from Davidson Software.

The office, to be located on the Almondale School campus in Littlerock, will have 20 multimedia computers with access to the Internet.

``We're really excited about it - for the first time it's right in our valley, and they'll send their consultants (teacher trainers) up here,'' Fuller said.

``The outcome of this training is that parents and community members become technology advocates who have an understanding of student and school needs and are able to share their understanding with others throughout the community,'' said James Lanich, Technology for Learning Initiative executive director.

For now, Antelope Valley teachers must go to classes in Downey for computer training.

``Many times, we schools in the Antelope Valley couldn't get the training because we couldn't get substitutes or our people couldn't make it down below,'' she said.

Once it is operational, the Partner for Technical Training: Center for Excellence will offer classes for local teachers, community members and parents.

A part-time clerk will keep the center open two evenings a week. Besides the training offered by county consultants, teachers who have already received training in Downey may share their knowledge with their Antelope Valley colleagues.

Keppel Union also is applying for a federal grant to fund additional training.

The district office board room in Pearblossom has 10 computers for limited training, and Antelope Valley High School District has a limited training site.

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