News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
Overton County Schools have purchased four additional Microsoft team rooms to increase virtual learning capacity.
The online meeting rooms provide a platform for students learning from home. Director of Schools Mark Winningham said the upgrades give the school system the option to go fully virtually if needed.
“We noticed that need back in the spring,” Winningham said. “When we closed in March, we had teachers that were trying to provide instruction from school through Microsoft Teams. Microsoft Teams is just the platform, but we need the devices in order to produce that.”
Some devices coming with the purchase are a 65 inch display and cameras for video conferences. Winningham said a virtual specific teacher will use the technology to see students work all on one screen. The school system assigned each grade at least one online instructor in September.
“The teacher can see the students at home. The students can see the teacher at home,” Winningham said. “And then they can see the work that is being provided for them on their screen, as well.”
A $16,000 bid for the equipment was approved during Tuesday’s Board of Education meeting. Winningham said each school will benefit from the technology.
