TEAMWORK BUILDS COMPUTER CENTER.(LIFE & LEISURE)

Byline: Kathleen Dooley

Children at Forest Park Elementary School in South Colonie will have their own publishing computer center next fall.

The center, which is coming to fruition through an all-volunteer campaign, will allow students an opportunity to use computers in the creative process, and work independently during the course of the school day, says Claudia Germain, school library media specialist, who is spearheading the drive to raise funds at the school. With the new technology, students can type reports, put out a newspaper, write original books, develop a literary magazine and become involved in journal writing. The idea, says, Germain is to allow them to go through the entire creative process from start to finish using the advanced technology.

``Anywhere they go in life, they will be using computer technology. The earlier they start the better,'' said the teacher-librarian, who has been at Forest Park for three years. ``It is such a motivational tool. The kids come to the library. Their eyes light up. `Can I use the computer?' they say with such enthusiasm.'' Kids in lower groups are especially motivated by the advanced technology, she added.

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