University opens high-tech haven in local middle school

After years of planning and anticipation, the University officially opened a technologically advanced learning center in a Chapel Hill middle school Wednesday that will enable teachers to broadcast their classes around the world.

Located in a newly built wing of R.D. and Euzelle P. Smith Middle School, the $1.2 million Carolina Center for Educational Excellence will be used by students from both the middle school and the University's School of Education.

The center comprises four classrooms equipped with plasma screen monitors and high-speed Internet connections. Each room also has interactive video conferencing capabilities.

"The center provides an opportunity for kids to learn through science and advanced technology," said Valerie Reinhardt, Smith's principal. "I work with UNC in a collaborative effort to enhance the learning experience for both students and teachers."

Lori Young, program manager and maintenance facilitator for the center, said she is excited about the possibilities.

"One of the goals of the center is to use digital communication technologies to enable educators and students to connect with peers and scholars across diverse geographic locations," she said.

She added that she hopes it will be possible for a teacher to give a lesson in one of the center's classrooms and simultaneously reach hundreds of children across the state.

Smith students tried out the center's technology last May at the worldwide Megaconference Jr., a youth media gathering, when they made presentations to peers around the world. Smith was one of more than 20 schools that participated in the event.

"We have four classrooms," said Neil Shipman, faculty coordinator in the School of Education. "But the classroom is the whole world if we choose to do so."

Shipman said officials chose Smith as the site for the center because both entities were being planned at the same time.

"It was just the right place at the right time," he said.

Shipman added that the center was in planning for several years and that it was part of a bond referendum for school construction.

Students in the School of Education take classes in the center regularly. There, they can hone their teaching skills and learn to make lesson plans apply to a wide group of people.

Shipman thinks it will take cooperation between the University and all state educators to have the best schools possible.

"To me, the biggest goal is to continue to prepare teachers and keep them enthused with the work they do," he said.

Shipman said he thinks the center will go a long way in pursuing that goal.

"The big question is how to improve schools," he said. "And we do that with quality staff."

Contact the City Editor at citydesk@unc.edu.