Media and Technology
Resource Categories
Media Center Resources
All middle school and high school students have access to the media center and library resources which include periodicals, reference materials, fiction, non-fiction, educational videos, and Internet access. Students can search online for media center resources in the student section.
Computer Resources
Student Accounts
All Bethany students have individual, password protected network accounts and their own disk space for storing computer work and projects. All data is backed up nightly. Broadband internet access is available throughout the school with active pornography filters in place.
Computer Labs
BCS has three computer labs: a main teaching lab with 25 workstations, a second lab with 24 workstation, and a multipurpose room that includes 12 workstations. Both high school and middle school classes can use these labs for classes or projects.
Media Center Workstations
The library has 12 student workstations-classes may use these for Internet research or students may use them during study halls. If the library computers are full and there are no classes in the computer labs, the labs may also be used by students during study hall.
Special Services
The special services room has 4 student workstations running for students to use during structured study time. These machines include assistive software for a variety of learning styles.
High School Classrooms
Several classrooms have student workstations for assignments in the room. The Chemistry/Physics lab is equipped with 10 wireless laptops with specialized software and interfaces for student use in laboratory assignments.
Middle School Classrooms
Each middle school classroom has at least 2 student workstations. In addition all middle school students have access to the Media Center and all computer labs.
Multimedia
The school currently has 5 fully functional multimedia carts that can be used in classrooms to project computer, DVD, VHS, or cable TV multimedia content. In addition the computer labs, multi-purpose room, and both middle school and high school geography classrooms have permanently mounted projectors and screens for media presentation.
Information Technology Curriculum
Bethany strives to equip students with technology tools needed for success in the 21st century, but also teaches students how to use them appropriately. Students will learn to use both Mac and PC platforms. In conversation with college professors and high school teachers, Bethany has developed a scope and sequence for intregrating technology skills into the curriculum at each grade level. Below is an example of some of the the technology skills identified:
| Word processing | typing, editing, saving files, research formatting |
| Spreadsheets | data entering, charts and graphs, formulas |
| Database | how, when, and why databases are used |
| Presentations | fundamentals of effective visual layout |
| Internet use | appropriate search engines, ethical use, plagiarism, social networking |
| Image capturing | capture/produce images, cameras, scanners, downloads, editing sofware |
| Audio capturing | see above plus incorporating into presentations |
| Video capture | see above plus incorporating int presentations; DVD/podcast use |
| Digital mapping | geo-visualization tools in google earth; creating thematic maps; GIS; GPS |
| Journalism/layout | industry standard layout; content for print-web-podcast |
| Music composition | create and edit original music composition |
| Personal information management | calendar, financial software for personal money management |
Additionally the following technology courses are offered:
Digital Communication
This basic class is required of all grade 6 students. Students learn keyboarding skills, how to use common software programs, and discuss appropriate internet use.
Computer Applications
A high school elective, students learn more in-depth uses of tools to create presentations, databases, and spreadsheets.