The computer does not deliver instruction per se, it merely records students' progress and automatically provides tests. All of this means there is a lot more time for direct contact between teachers and students. Computing resources for the software are provided from a regional computer center, the North West Ohio Computer Association, one of 25 in the statewide Ohio Education Computer Network. The teacher is in San Antonio, Texas, while the students are in Swanton. Optical Data Corp. Further, lectures have been videotaped so that students may check the tapes out of the library, take them home and watch them with their parents.
Students use many different programs as they move through their coursework.
Finally, through the Internet, students and teachers have access from any terminal in the district to databases around the world. In conclusion, Swanton is proving that schools can organize themselves so that students are the focus, instead of the institution. With technology, the district has been able to restructure, empower its teachers and better serve its students. Daniel Holden was formerly the assistant superintendent of Swanton Local Schools in Swanton, Ohio. The district is one of 27 served by the Northern Buckeye Education Council, a consortium of districts that share computer and educational technology resources.