Technological literacy is ever more essential to living successfully in our world. Technology no longer exists in its own exclusive, exclusionary place. It now enhances progress in nearly every field of endeavor, including education. And children with access to technology quickly learn how to use it -- and how to use the many opportunities it affords.

In the Russell Byers Charter School technology program, the operative word is access. Every classroom from five-year-old kindergarten and above has computers and connections to the Internet available, rather than being set up only in a separate computer lab. This structural decision was made consciously -- to help students naturally involve technology in their overall education and their daily schoolwork.

The technology program at RBCS is meant to enhance this process. Computers are tools that serve learning and communication and so they are at hand for student use. In the present configuration, there are three Dell Pentium 3 computers set up for the students in each classroom and one for each teacher -- or 37 overall. Each classroom has a networked printer, and one scanner is set up for each grade. Unisys contributed three Dell Desktop Systems to operate as servers for the system, and the company made volunteer time available to set up the network, configure the servers, and train faculty.

The computers operate on Windows XP Professional. Microsoft donated copies of Office XP, of the encyclopedia Encarta, and of its educational software the Magic School Bus. Internet and email access is available schoolwide via a T-1 line, provided by Allegiance. The school also has its own Web site, with hosting provided by Unisys.

Students must achieve proficiency in grade-appropriate technology skills, including keyboarding, word-processing and other software program use, Internet research, database research, and equipment care and maintenance. But while these skills are measured by specific standards, they are taught via actual schoolwork.

Students use the computers to write, produce reports, and make their own books. They also work with specialized programs to improve literacy and do research. Using Kid Pix Studio, every student can become an artist by creating pictures, stories, digital puppet shows, animation, music and even digital mini-movies. With the Magic School Bus, students can take interactive trips to explore the worlds of "Bugs," "Animals," "Dinosaurs," "Mars," and the "Ocean." And Encarta is available for in-class research.

Students are also encouraged to use the Internet for research on all kinds of topics -- from science to social studies and current events. And the school’s own Web site has and will serve many communication functions. Plans for the site include regular updates about general school activities and links for each classroom, so students can post a wide range of information about current expeditions. This could include sound recordings of a poem or song, a digital photo of a bird sighted during an urban nature project, or on-line publication of a project report.