Connecting through technology

Letter from the editor

In this week's issue, you'll read about two different ways teachers are using technology as a way to prepare Bigfork's youth for the future, but also to connect with them.

Hans Bodenhamer, Bigfork High School science teacher, has adopted GIS, or geographic information systems, technology with the Cave Club he advises. The technology is complicated. Bodenhamer himself admits that he's been slow to learn, but the students have taken off with it and received recognition for their work, which has included creating a GIS rendering of caves within Glacier National Park. Read more about their efforts online or on A1 of the print edition.

Other teachers are finding ways to incorporate blogging and social media in the classroom – technology that many students are already familiar with. Mike Roberts, media and technology teacher, said it's actually gotten students more motivated and, more importantly, they are getting work done in the process of using the blogs. Read more about these uses in Bigfork schools on A2 of the print edition.

All of the teachers I talked to for these stories have pointed out that we live in an information technology age and it's imperative to adapt so students don't fall behind. It looks as if Bigfork's teachers are making an effort to make sure the students stay on course.

-Jasmine Linabary