Schools Outsource Computer and Technology Education Programs to Computer Explorers

Students at St. Mel Catholic School

Schools across the country are choosing to outsource computer training and technology education programs to Computer Explorers in a move that cuts costs and keeps technology current.

At St. Mel Catholic School in Fair Oaks, California, a Computer Explorers teacher is on site three days a week, integrating technology into lesson plans and working with students in the school’s computer lab. The same teacher develops and conducts staff training sessions so teachers can get the most out of technology tools and help their students do the same.

It doesn’t stop there. Computer Explorers helped the school write a technology plan for accreditation and St. Mel is considering tapping the company’s expertise for technology education classes for parents.

Computer Explorers of the Greater Sacramento area is at St. Mel and three other parochial schools in the area, helping create a culture of technology that benefits both students and teachers. The in-school arrangement, called the Integrated Technology Resource Program, not only provides a cost-effective way for schools to stay up-to-date but also gives our local owners another line of business build.

Schools like St Mel’s that use the program love it.

“It is a very sound program, and parents are always impressed not only with the computer lab itself but the quality of work that the students produce in it,” says St. Mel Principal Janet Nagel. “Computer Explorers is constantly upgrading and constantly passing on information to its local owners, schools and teachers.”

The 2011-12 academic year will be Computer Explorers sixth year at St. Mel, and Nagel says the program helps the school stand out.  Computer Explorers offers outsourced technology education in over fifty markets in the US.

“We take a whole-school approach when working with local educators,” says Collette Howell, owner of the Sacramento area Computer Explorers franchise. “St. Mel contracts with us for an integrated technology program that provides a resource teacher, evolving curriculum and project-based learning.”

Beyond that, St. Mel gets a suite of services that includes an assessment tool to help track improvement in youngsters’ technology skills, popular after-school TechStars classes and access to Computer Explorers’ innovative eTOTs program.

“Schools always receive professional development because it is important that teachers get training to complement student skills,” says Howell. “With the Computer Explorers curriculum, students are learning how to work collaboratively while gaining important technology skills. What they learn reinforces the project and content objectives of the classroom teacher. For classroom teachers, technology education is not their sole focus and Computer Explorers provides it in a way that is irreplaceable.”

Bringing Computer Explorers into a school is often less expensive and more efficient than hiring a staff specialist and because technology is changing so rapidly, outsourcing to Computer Explorers helps keep students working on the most current platforms possible.

Outsourcing technology programs is a great part of a business model that also includes innovative after-school classes and summer camps that get children excited about technology, science, math and other core academic subjects. The need for Computer Explorers continues to grow, and the rapid pace of technological change and its impact on teaching and learning means we’ll be in business for a long time to come.