LZMSS Tech

    LZMSS offers a very wide variety of technology for students and teachers, to use pretty much whenever and wherever they want.  Since we have gone into this technology age, all schools in the US, as well as most of the world, have computers and the internet opened up to them, for quite a few years now.  Obviously, most people reading this already know so, but it is all true and is what's happening.  This page gathers information about the current technology available to students and teachers, what they do, why we have them, and what they're all about.  I hope you find this page useful.  Enjoy.

    History of Tech at LZMSS

  At the old Middle School school, Jim Johnson, the past principal there, bought 5 PET computers, and set up an after school basic programming group.  These were some of the first computers the district used.  Then again at the old school, they somehow obtained a small group of Apple IIe computers. 

    Once LZMSS, the new building, was built, they dropped those computers, and created a lab of PowerMac 5400/120.  These were very good at the time.  Then, as the new school we are in now, being built in 1993, was added onto, including a new main computer lab, a slightly new PowerMac was being used.  A couple years later they were replaced with the last generation of Macs- iMac G3s, the newer, still to this day not yet obsolete, slot loading models, from 1999.  These were passed down to the elementary schools, as well as many computers before.  The district never threw any out.  A few years later, the Middle Schools got rid of Mac and went to PCs, first using HPs, then, the computers used now, which are Dell (explanation of those below on page) including Dell notebooks.  Now the school is starting to switch back to HP, including new HPs in the library, and most teachers are using one of two types of HP laptops, all of which are explained in the charts below. 

    That right there is a history of computers in general in some of the district and throughout the school over the years.

Disclaimer:  Some of the above information may be partially incorrect, due to the fact that I relied on Mr. Willer's memory of events.

Types of Computers currently used at LZMSS (Key: IE-Internet Explorer)

Just to mention, there are also a few mixed computers in the music room, art room, applied tech room, drama room, ect, and are simply not mentioned.  Most are Dell Optiplex like in the computer room.

Other Technology Used at Middle School South:

Projectors

Used in most classrooms so teachers can show what's on their computer on the board, for students to see. Whether it be a video or activity, this works really nice to show things to students.  These include projectors from companies such as Dell, Epson, and Hitachi.

Interactive Whiteboard

Used only by a few select teachers, this includes a board where once the computer is hooked up to on the screen, a pen can be used to click and draw things on the board, without even having to touch your computer.

Televisions

Most teachers have a TV in their room.  These are used for teachers to supply VHS/DVD players to show movies and educational films to students.  These are being used less and less because teachers now have the projectors to show a movie from their computer.  They are still often used for older VHS tapes though.  These vary in what company makes them.

Document Projectors

These are projectors that have special effects and let you show regular papers on the board for students to see.  These also have a camera that allows you to see somebody or something up close.

Printers

Few teachers have a printer of their own.  But, on all computer carts, in the front office, and especially in the library, there are printers that can all be wirelessly printed to from all laptops and desktops.  These include smaller office printers, to large, heavy duty printers.

Scanners

Few teachers have a scanner of their own, but in the library and front office, teachers use them to scan things onto the network or their computer.

Copiers

There are copiers for teachers to use in the front office, lounges, and library, and a student useable one students pay to make copies with.  These are the only reason students get papers at all.

MSS Home Page

Page Sponsor: Mr. David Gardner
Page Author: Andrew F.
Webmaster: Mr. A. Willer
Created: October 2009
Pictures from Wikipedia
Background from Jumpy