NORWICH – As companies become more dependent on technology, the need for skilled computer operators increases. In today’s society, those entering the professional market may need more than the basic courses typically offered at high schools to get ahead of the pack.

Technology has become essential to daily life for many Americans, starting with children at very young ages. Children in kindergarten, and even younger, are embracing the concepts of computers. Throughout past decade, the increasing number of careers which require advanced computer skills is staggering.

Norwich High School has taken a look at what courses could help benefit the students and prepare them for their futures. New technical advances have been added within the middle and high schools to foster a modernized learning environment.

Video projectors have been installed throughout the middle school and are now being installed in the high school. With these LCD projectors, teachers have the ability to present information to students more logically and legibly than ever before. Other new advancements include document cameras, advanced software, and the teachers will have laptop computers. Using this new technology, teachers can use a variety of software material and project it all at once to the students. Teachers can demonstrate how to search the Internet, format papers, show computer design and overall give a closer perspective about how to use a computer.

Whereas the high school used to offer typing classes to introduce basic skills, the computer lab is now filled with brand new computers. With the growth of today’s technical and software advancements, students are now being offered courses with much more detail and precision.

Visions is a new software program being introduced which allow teachers to block the Internet while teaching, see what all the children are looking at online and keep everyone in the class at the same pace.

Business teacher, Greg Bonczkowski teaches more specialized computer courses now and he has started courses in business communication. The new courses include Electronic Information Processing, Web Design and Computer Applications. The students will get the chance to explore Microsoft office applications. Students will search the Internet and learn the basics about business communication concepts. Students will use modern technology to achieve the ability to professionally write office letters, memos and do formatting.