Page 24 - link magazine

NEWS & VIEWS
24
An Apple Macintosh II colour Apples bear fruit at Greendown Boat exhibition
computer worth over £3,000 was stretches students
donated to a local school in De-
cember in recognition of its large The results of a project by 170 first
investment in a new computer years were put on display at
Greendown School in December.
system last year. The annual boa tshow for parents
The opening of a new science and local business people is the
block at Greendown Community culmination of a six week module
School prompted the purchase of which brings together a whole
34 Apple computers, adding to range of studies according to
an existing network of eighty BBC headteacher Ian Matthews. "The
micro computers. students had to design, make and
Swindon Apple dealer Joint testa prototype boat; then they have
Venture Systems won the con- to writeup their results and present
tract to supply the computers all their work in a display. Maths,
following a suggestion by the science, technology, workshop
editor of The Link magazine, practice, computer work, writing
which is produced on a Mac. At and marketing have all been
a presentation in December, Mike involved in the learning process."
Milton for JVS said his company Parents and invited guests from
was very pleased to be involved industry toured the boat show
with a progressive school like displays and talked to the
Greendown. "This represents our Headteacher Ian Matthews, left, receives a Macintosh II mouse from Tim youngsters about their work.
biggest installation of Macs in Burns of Apple Computer flanked by Janet Duffield of Joint Venture Andrew Wallace from Intergraph
education and is the largest in a Systems, Ray Barker director of computing at Greendown and Ed Larkin, on Great Western Way, who used
to work as a yacht designer, said he
Wiltshire school." Wiltshire Education Authority Information Technology Advisor, and was very impressed by the effort
Tim Bums, Regional Education Greendown fourth years.
Manager for Apple Computer be associated with developments control of its own budget, I've and the achievement of the
youngsters. "It's the sort of project
UK, said his company was spon- in information technology at been using one to calculate the which gives a good understanding
cost of running Greendown more
soring the colour computer at Greendown." of the different stages involved in a
Greendown because of the im- Headteacher Ian Matthews ex- accurately and it has been saving
practical project."
pressive investment made by the plained that the school had gone us money already." Peter Wilkes, who built and
school. "More and more schools for the Macintosh because they displayed his model boat with
The Macintosh computers are
are turning to the Apple Macin- are easy to use but very sophisti- used by students in a variety of friends Kieth Angell and Gavin
tosh because of their ease of use cated. "Students can start using subjects includinggraphic design, Klulowski, said the work had been
and the fact that they are increas- them with little instruction and graph calculation and desktop hard but great fun because they
ingly to be found in the are able to produce very high publishin; they are also used by had to get everything done in time
workplace. We're delighted to quality work. As a school in adults in evening classes. for the visit by the adults.
Tools to make people less
reliant on aid

CALO A voluntary group which re-cycles
old tools for workers in third world
countries has started a monthly
workshop in West Swindon.
Tools for Self-Reliance is a
Your New Calor Gas national charity which aims to help
people in poor countries to help
Main Dealer in Swindon themselves by providing them with
the tools to do the job. The Swindon
Hotline: (0793) 613391 group has started to use workshop
facilities at Greendown
Community School on the first
24 hour telephone Saturday of each month where they
ordering service clean and refurbish donated tools
which can be assembled into kits
and sent out to countries like
Collections from our Depot at Bridgend Road
Tanzania, Nicaragua, Zimbabwe
and Mozambique.
Showroom at Local coordinator Julie Smith is Andy Tomkins sharpening tools with
very pleased that the group can use Julie Smith at Greendown
14, The Orbit Centre Greendown. "We were
Ashworth Road 40 approached by the school with an Reliance group needs more tools
Great Western Way, offer we couldn't refuse," said Julie. for their work, especially for
"The work benches, drills and carpentry and blacksmithing,
Swindon grinding tools have expanded our which will allow people to make
capabilities greatly. All our tools their own new tools. At a recent
Displays of Fixed gas fires, go to cooperatives, villages or exhibition in the West Swindon
training centres and we try to get library, about half a dozen tools
mobile cabinet heaters feedback from the users so that we were collected for re-cycling.
and miscellaneous can learn about how they live and To find out more about the group
15 k-
how they use the tools we send. It's ring Julie Smith on 52118 or Andy
Calor appliances
an important link for us." Tomkins on 694550. They will also
The Swindon Tools for Self collect tools for re-cycling.