Teaching with technology: General McLane High School


	Resources
	School of the Future General McLane High School Web site Microsoft Educator Resources Web site

Teacher spotlight

Calculus Teacher Judy Scaletta

Judy Scaletta, Calculus teacher and leader of the "Technology Cohort" at General McLane High School, believes that involving teachers in small groups, or cohorts, to discuss best practices for teaching and learning is very effective. Two technology cohorts meet twice each month to review technology skills and to discuss ways of integrating technology into various curricula. The cohorts serve as catalysts, stimulating technology use across the school. See the technology cohort video. (Windows Media File)

General McLane High School

Schools all over the country are reaping the benefits of teaching with technology, developing 21st-century learning communities that are engaging and inspiring to teachers and students alike. Educators and administrators are creating new models for learning and environments that promote digital inclusion—with many positive results.

General McLane High School, in Edinboro, Pennsylvania, finds that integrating technology in all areas of the learning experience helps the school. Watch an overview of how General McLane is integrating technology into their curriculum.

On this page:

Engage reluctant learners.
Forge intellectual links.

Engage reluctant learners

Teachers at General McLane constantly seek ways to improve students' experiences and to boost their achievement. The Experience Academy, for example, aims to capture the minds of 9th-graders, many of whom are reluctant learners. Drawing on community support, the Academy promotes active exploration of local history and up-close-and-personal investigation of local flora and fauna. Teaching and learning happen both inside and outside of school walls. See the Experience Academy video. (Windows Media file)

Forge intellectual links

The school enjoys a strong technology infrastructure. General McLane boasts five computer labs, three of which are used to support an extensive program of study incorporating computer use. Principal Rick Scaletta would like to increase the pace of integration of technology into the curriculum. Every teacher has a laptop, and Scaletta wants teachers and students to go beyond e-mail and word processing to forge intellectual links between computers and the big ideas in their course of study.

Overcoming challenges

Principal Scaletta believes that giving each teacher a laptop fosters greater technology integration within and between classrooms. Although the school lags behind Scaletta's expectations for technology use in teaching and learning, the teachers are working hard to improve the use of technology through teacher technology cohorts.

About the community

General McLane High School is located in Edinboro, Pennsylvania, about 25 miles south of Erie, in the northwestern corner of the state. The town is home to Edinboro University. The school report card is one of which any school would be proud. Student achievement is a big focus in the small town of Edinboro.