Mid-Rivers communication Educational Technology Grant Program gives back to its origin community.

by Tara Hubing

Circle Schools was one of twenty-one applications received by Mid-Rivers Communications for the Educational Technology Grant Program and received $8,500 to purchase laptops to be used by students. The application included a video portion, and preference was given to projects that could “promote student leadership and workforce development skills, especially in fields that will allow students to successfully live and work in Eastern Montana as adults” (https://midrivers.com/education-tech-grants-available/).

First, here is little background of some of the technology goals at Circle Schools. We have an active technology committee that meets at various times throughout the year to discuss new technology and the direction it should take in the school system. A few years ago, the decision was made to go to one-to-one devices. Students in grades K-3 use iPads for testing and learning apps. In grades 4-9, students receive Chromebooks so they can become proficient in Google classroom and applications. The committee decided that in 10th grade, students would receive laptops to use through their senior year and be able to take to college with them. The reason for the switch to laptops was so that students would be able to become familiar with Microsoft applications for workforce development skills and use other applications that would work best on laptops.

Mid-Rivers Communications brought to the forefront the shared goal of preparing students to be able to come back to Eastern Montana to live and work. Educationally, Circle High School students are able to use technology in innovative ways that can prepare them for post-secondary training or work. For instance, students can do online animal dissections for healthcare or veterinarian work, business applications to operate their farm/ranch or own their own business, design programs to work remotely with larger corporations, welding or laser platforms that promote vocational training, presentation software to improve communication skills, and math programs that connect students with STEM careers.

Students also use their devices to take dual enrollment classes from various Montana colleges. CHS has students taking classes from Dawson Community College, Miles Community College, Fort Peck Community College, MSU-Billings, Great Falls College, and MSU-Northern. Dual enrollment courses allow students to complete up to a year or more of college courses while in high school and include coursework from majors such as education, healthcare, and agriculture. Not only do these allow students the opportunities to learn, but the students also learn how to learn using technology, which helps them in college. Exposure to these classes benefits students by helping them to experience different majors.

Governor Gianforte has launched a Come Home Montana Campaign to recruit people to come back to Montana to work (https://www.comehomemontana.com/). He encourages entrepreneurship and young people getting involved. Circle High School's Entrepreneurship class has been self-sufficient since 2001, and it teaches students a variety of skills, including working with an industry-based computer program–Adobe Illustrator–which is loaded on their laptops. Students create Wildcat designs or any other type of logo to put on clothing for customers. They usually make all of their own warm-ups for sports as well. Adobe Illustrator is also used in the shop where students use it with the laser engraver and other machines.

Circle Schools would like to play a part in bringing our students back to Eastern Montana to work, and we would like to thank Mid-Rivers Communications for helping us to do that through the grant we received. Thanks Mid-Rivers Communications for your support of local schools, technology, and students!