At the start of this school year, Palmetto went through a major upgrade. Not only did the transformation happen over the summer, but also continues into the near future. The school will welcome a new iPrep program and wellness center.
This summer, old computers were replaced with newer Dell model computers and the software that the computers ran on also got upgraded with the inclusion of Windows 7. With these new upgrades came a new login system that students now are adjusting to. Now, the login for the computers makes the username one’s ID number and the password the first letter of a student’s first name and their ID number.
“My ambition for the state of technology of our school was to enhance the technology of the school and get us out of the Stone Age,” computer tech Steven Graham said.
In February, Palmetto will start construction on the new iPrep program and start to accept students for the 2012- 2013 school year. Against common beliefs, the iPrep program has nothing to do with virtual school. There are teachers that would be in the classroom and instead of textbooks each student will receive tablets with virtual versions of the textbooks that a person would use in the classroom.
“While it is more virtualized by turning in class work and homework online, you are still in a classroom in front of a teacher,” Graham said.
Also included in the iPrep program will be the start of integration of video games to teach new lessons. Palmetto is trying to work out a deal with Microsoft to see if they will be able to give the school a set of Kinects. The Kinect is a controller free device that allows the user to control the programs that are on the television screen with just their voice and body.
Some games that are in consideration for usage for the Kinect are the Kerbal Space Program and Frog Guts. Kerbal Space Program is a game that would allow the user to design their own space rocket and the goal is to build something that can lift off and have the ability to orbit and land on the moon. Also in consideration is Frog Guts. This game is a dissection game that would allow students to examine and learn the anatomy of a frog without the smell and mess.
Even though the idea of using video games to teach lessons may seem exciting, there are students that feel like it would be a waste of time and not as effective as normal teaching.
“I think it would be a poor decision to use games in order to teach, frankly because it’s an inefficient method and would not be as intensive as the use of books and lectures,” senior Alex Shantiai said. “Video games don’t have diplomas from a university and can’t respond to students as a teacher could.”
Miami-Dade County is receiving a physical education grant that will support the funding of different physical education programs and Palmetto is going to be a part of that grant. Therefore, the school is going to replace room 936 with a wellness center that will be full of exercise machines such as treadmills and bicycle equipment. The center will also have Kinect sensors that will have different types of yoga games such as “Your Shape: Fitness Evolved” and “The Biggest Loser.”
“The purpose of creating this wellness center will be to increase fitness and activity to raise physical health among students,” athletic director Yvette McKinney said.
These upgrades that the school will receive over the next couple years will help the school get out of the “stone” age and finally put it into the 21st century.