Only the finest technology for Central

Getting into college has become increasingly more competitive in recent years. Valley Stream Central High School educators want to give their students a leg up, and that’s why a new a computer center was installed over the summer in the library.

The new Research and Scholarship Center includes computers, a television and a SmartBoard. It was created in a corner of the library that had been used as a study area. In the Center, students can do independent research on computers, or do group work at adjoining tables.

Lisa DiChiara, Central’s librarian, said the center has been heavily used since it opened last month, especially by English, science and language classes. Many teachers bring their classes to the area to do work for research projects.

The library already had 16 computers, as well as a separate computer lab, but in this era, that simply was not sufficient, according to DiChiara. Those computers were all upgraded and 15 more were added.

DiChiara and Principal Dr. Joseph Pompilio have been talking over the past two years about how to better meet the needs of Central students. Pompilio noted that seniors have to write research papers in English and history to pass. “It’s very serious research, on the college level,” he said, “so I wanted them to have some place to go and I wanted to fill that with the finest technology.”

Pompilio said that students can also use these computers to take advantage of free lectures from professors at Ivy League universities that are available online. He said this will help students prepare for their transition to college, where many courses are lecture-style presentations they are simply unaccustomed to in high school.

In the two months since the Research and Scholarship Center has been open, Pompilio said students have taken its purpose seriously. They are not using the computers to surf the net, he said, but rather to enhance their education.

Dr. Gita Bhairam-Raza, who teaches biology, chemistry and advanced science research, said she brings her classes to the Center on a regular basis. “It’s absolutely wonderful because the kids have a place to research,” she said. “It really integrates technology and group work.”

Many of her science research students need the computers for independent study for the high level of work they are doing. Overall, Bhairam-Raza said the additional resources the school offers has allowed her to grow her curriculum.

With the addition of the Research and Scholarship Center, DiChiara said the library has enough available technology to accommodate both a class, and students working independently. She explained that many teens use their free periods to come to the library do work for their classes. “It was definitely a need,” she said of the expanded computer capabilities.

DiChiara herself will often work with groups of students in the Center to teach them research skills. That is where the SmartBoard comes in handy, allowing her to show students the many databases available through the library’s website.

Pompilio said that the New York State Education Department is considering adding a research paper assignment as a graduation requirement. If it does, he says Central High School will be well prepared to meet the need of its students.