AASD Technology
- The School Board has allocated a significant portion of its unreserved fund
balance for additional computer technology in recent years.
- All classrooms are connected to the school district's private fiber
optic ring. Students can access high-speed Internet from every classroom.
- Parents can check student progress through ProgressBook. Real-time grades,
homework updates, school announcements and the ability to communicate with
teachers via e-mail are important features.
- The Central Pennsylvania Digital Learning Foundation (CPDLF),
initiated in 2002 by the AASD in cooperation with 34 Central Pennsylvania
school districts, has successfully completed its fifth year. Enrolled students
can access the curriculum 24 hours daily.
- McAuliffe Heights at Irving is the district's first digital school. Each
student has an Apple iBook, a wireless laptop computer, for use in the classroom
and at home.
- The AAHS foreign language/multi-media lab is a state of the art digital
design that uses interactive audio, computers, satellite broadcasts and
a video distribution system.
- Mobile computer carts are used in many schools to help integrate technology
into the curriculum.
- Student-operated Mountain Lion Television has the same digital technology
used by the major TV networks. Students write and produce a morning news show
that is telecast throughout AAHS as well as "The Lion's Den," a lively
news program telecast to the community.
- AASD's Internet pipeline, through its Center
for Advanced Technologies, has increased to 30 mps. A connection to Internet
2 has been added.
- Altoona Area High School emerging technology classes, as well as digital
art and music classes, feature top-of-the-line computers, CD and DVD burning
equipment.
- An extensive software collection and a wide array of multi-media equipment
are used for authoring web-based multimedia projects and digital art and music
compositions.
- Elementary students use technology as a tool for project-based learning
projects.