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Home My WebLink AboutHuron Expositor, 2003-12-24, Page 13News THE HURON EXPOSITOR, DEC1111 24. 2003-13 Avon Maitland website Getting Students Connected being accessed by computer users across the world By Stew Slater Special to The Expositor Thousands of computer users across the world are taking advantage of research information compiled by Avon Maitland District School Board staff, geared towards greater success on the Ontario school curriculum. This information is all linked from a website described by its creator, Jacquie Vercruyssen, as "one -of -a -kind." And it's all being perused for free. Getting Students Connected, located at www.gsc.amdsb.ca, was launched in 2001 to provide a means by which students could conduct online research for their projects, without having to weed through the copious amounts of useless information that tends to also appear on computer screens when a particular topic is entered into a mainstream internet search engine. Since that time, it has evolved into a comprehensive website, with separate sections for each grade level and another geared towards "non graded" students, where career options and other information can be found. Within each grade level, the site �is separated first into courses, then into particular areas of study within those courses. From there, links are provided to actual online resource sites; one example, shown during a presentation to trustees at a regular Avon Maitland meeting Tuesday, Dec. 9, featured a site hosted by the University of Sheffield in England, describing how different types of rock form. According to Information Technology system principal Maggie Crane, Getting Students Connected received over 78,000 hits in November, 2003, with those representing a significantly larger number of actual users. That's because one student might log onto the website, but if that takes place at a school-based computer, there might be several others waiting in line to use the same website when the first person finishes. The popularity of the website's secondary school section lags behind that of the elementary section, Crane admits. But she says that changes each year, as students who previously used the service while in elementary school continue to recognize its value - compared to established internet search engines - when they move on to high school. The presentation by Crane and Vercruyssen made it clear the site is well -used by students and parents within the Huron and Perth Counties. A printed report, provided for trustees, notes "it is completely free to staff, students and parents of the Avon Maitland District School Board." The presentation also made it clear, however, that Getting Students Connected is just as free for anyone else with an internet connection. Quoted 'It is completely free to staff, students and parents of the Avon Maitland District School Board,' -- Jacquie Vercruyssen, website creator Vercruyssen told trustees "about a quarter" of the website's hits come from users outside the board, including other Ontario school boards but also including computer users in the United States, Great Britain, Hong Kong and Taiwan. "We are the only board in Ontario that offers such an extensive resource for free. We are currently visited by over 5,000 people from around the world each day," she said. According to the board's communications manager, Steve Howe, the site's creators looked into the idea of charging out -of -board users for connecting. But they discovered the process of assigning passwords and creating a security system would have been too cumbersome, complex and labour-intensive to make it worthwhile. Howe adds there are non -monetary benefits to the site's increasing profile a profile which he says is apparent in the fact some internet search engines have begun listing Getting Students Connected even though the board never registered the site with those search engines. Those benefits include "gaining credibility" with other educational institutions in Ontario. Without a money -generating aspect to the successful program, however, does that mean it could be cut from the budget during a lean year? According to director of education Geoff Williams, that's "always a risk." But he adds the perceived benefit to the board's own students would probably outweigh any move to eliminate it. "Given the volume of our kids that are using (Getting Students Connected), it's unlikely staff would recommend" cutting the program, Williams said. BUSINESS DIRECTORY To Place Your Ad Call -527-0240 AIR CONDITIONING & HEATING SPECIALISTS Licensed for Sheet Metal. Refrigeration. 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