TECHNOLOGY RENEWS BUSINESS OF TEACHING BUSINESS

Business is booming, even in the classroom, and teachers are excited. With increased technological advances in recent years, teachers are working to keep up with current and predicted trends to assure their students will be ready for what lies ahead.

Patty Wamble, a business teacher at Cape Girardeau Central High School, says enrollment is on the rise in business classes. Students may choose from such courses as keyboarding, computer applications, accounting, business law, finance and introduction to business.

Resume writing and interview skills are important to those students who intend to go to work immediately upon graduation.

"We do mock interviews and have question-response sessions," said Wamble.

Renee Pingle, who teaches keyboard at the junior-high level as well as in high school, is part of a technology committee that is trying to bring the schools up to date.

"We're meeting with teachers from kindergarten through 12th grade," she said.

The committee's goal is to introduce keyboarding at a much earlier level so computer applications can be offered in eighth grade.

"This can't happen overnight, but we're working on it," she said.

Southeast Missouri State University is seeing an upswing in the business field as well. The job market currently looks good for business teachers. Some of those currently working in the business fields are returning to upgrade their degree to include teaching certification.

Students excel when teachers are enthusiastic and motivated. The business instructors at Cape Girardeau Career and Technology Center are almost bouncing with enthusiasm. With a new state-of-the-art building under construction and current classrooms with upgraded technology, the school has a lot to offer its business students.

Camila Holbrook teaches courses in articulation, desktop publishing and business technology, and oversees supervised business experience internships. "Business is not just for secretaries anymore," she said.

Students are learning to use such sophisticated equipment as scanners, digital cameras, writable compact disc players, digitized voice and voice recognition machines along with computer skills using Microsoft Office.

Michael Baremore instructs courses in marketing education. Retailing, sales, product management, marketing research and advertising are included in course selections. Students enrolled in Baremore's classes may also join DECA, Distributive Education Clubs of America.

"We prepare students to enter the work force from the entry level on up," he said.

Anita Tyget teaches classes in adult business office technology. Although her students range in age from 17 to 50, she is seeing an increase in students whose jobs have been lost due to recent plant closings in the area.

"These people make wonderful students and employees," she said. "They are eager to learn and have already developed good work ethics."

The 20-week courses cover such basics as computer technology, business machines, office procedures and oral-written communication skills. A 10-week program is available in the field of medical transcription for qualifying students.

The Department of Secondary Instruction visits the school two or three times a year to keep tabs on educational progress.

"They must like what we're doing," said Orville Krauss, adult director of the technology center. "The state money keeps coming."

All business instructors report job placement high. "They call us," said Tyget, "because they know we will send them good workers."