GHCA Goes High-Tech.

"Rome wasn't built in a day," and neither was the computer lab. When I started this project over a year ago, I had no idea what I was getting myself into (said with a smile). Now that the end is in sight, I am very excited about the awesome potential the computer lab offers the students and teachers of GHCA.

Room 208 now houses 18 fully functional student computers running Windows® 95. For those who saw the "computer graveyard" of parts before work began, this might seem to be a bit of a miracle. In fact, it was, because so many businesses and individuals contributed their used computers to the lab, and without their generosity there would be no computer lab today. We are also very blessed by the computer won from Andy's IGA which now works hard as the master server to the entire network. Thank you all who participated in that program last year.

The real power of the computer lab is not so much the individual computers themselves, but the combined power of these machines using the newly installed Local Area Network (LAN). A LAN connects all the computers together using network cards and coax cable. My goal when I started putting these computers together was to enable them to share resources and equipment, allowing us to accomplish more with less. I didn't really appreciate how powerful this would be until recently when the LAN when fully online. For example, we don't have nearly enough CD-ROM drives for every machine. However, using the LAN, each machine can not only access the CD-ROM on the master server, but also four other CD-ROMs on the four Pentium computers in the class as well! Older computers with small hard drives need not worry either, as all computers have access to over 8 Gigabytes of storage on the master server. Printers are also networked allowing just a couple of printers to serve the entire computer lab.

Another exciting aspect of this network is our ability to access the Internet. The master server not only acts as a file server (for programs like word processors, Bible software, etc.), but it also acts as a proxy server and firewall. This means that each computer in the lab can access the Internet through the server. Eighteen student computers can be browsing the net over one phone line! Not only that, but the server also provides content filtering which will prevent students from wandering into websites that are inappropriate for children and a Christian school.

As the computer teacher, I am excited to teach the students how to use these computers to their fullest potential. The master server also serves as the teacher's computer and is connected to a large video display. This allows students to watch as I demonstrate how to operate software on the computer, and then they in turn can do the same on their own computers. The server also gives me access to each student's computer remotely, so I can grade lab work directly from my desk. I can also see if students are "playing" when they should be working, and cut their access to the "games." This setup is also ideal for installing new software on 18 individual computers, which used to be a monstrous task before the network was in place. I am also excited to have the students learn how to use computers in a networked environment, as this is becoming commonplace in the business sector. Of course, every once in a while, it is nice to take a day and just have fun with the computers. Students have a great time "chatting" with their classmates over the network or dog-fighting with their classmates in a space simulator.

The future of the computer lab does not just revolve around computer classes. When the lab is complete, I wish to open it up to both students and teachers to use in other subjects as well. Students will have access to a vast amount of encyclopedia material, bible reference material, online resources, and much more. They will be able to use the word processor to type reports. Teachers can use the computers to help teach their classes. History classes can go to websites with maps, charts, photos, etc. Bible classes can use the Bible software to do word searches, scripture comparing, and much more. Science classes can use modeling software to simulate atoms, reactions, and other concepts that cannot be explored in the science lab. In fact, the possibilities are endless!

As the "Network Administrator" for GHCA, I'm excited to someday network the entire school building. Our goal is to have a computer in every classroom for teacher and student use in that classroom. By networking these computers together, each classroom can access the internet through a single line and be protected by the filter and firewall software on the master server. We can share resources such as the various reference materials being stored on the server. Instead of putting memos in boxes, computer messages can be sent to the teachers directly from the headmaster, greatly cutting the cost and waste of paper use. Cross-classroom communication between teachers would be as easy as sending an email. Again, the possibilities are endless!

In order to expand and maintain our computer program, we need your help. Right now much of the computer lab is using older 486 computers. While these are adequate, they are slow and sometimes troublesome in handling newer software. We have four Pentium class computers that really do a good job meeting our current needs. With many people upgrading to Pentium III and Athlon based computers, there should be a number of older Pentium systems lying around. Even 75 Mhz Pentiums are a great blessing if you wished to donate one. We also are in need of certain parts. We could use more CD-ROM drives for computers going to individual teachers. We are in need of more memory for our computers. 72 pin SIMM RAM is what most of our computers use. Most importantly, we need monitors. Have you recently upgraded to a new 17-inch monitor? Many of our monitors are old and somewhat fuzzy, making them hard to read. Even a 14-inch monitor that is a few years old would be a great blessing compared to what we have now.

We do ask that you keep any computer older than a 486 100Mhz. We currently have no use for old 286s, 386s or slow 486s. By today's standards, even the original Pentium systems are obsolete, and something like a 286 is basically only good as a boat anchor (sad but true). We also have more than enough printers to last us for some time, unless you have an inkjet printer you wish to donate. I realize this may sound "picky", but we just don't have the room to store these older computers that can't run the software we are using today.

Anyone who has any questions or wants a demonstration, feel free to stop by the computer lab after school anytime.

-Mr. Surran

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27 School Street, Houlton, ME 04730