Kīhei Charter School upgrades computer education for the 21st Century

The Kīhei Charter School has announced a significant upgrade of its computer hardware and software using a 2GB platform. According to KCS, it is the only Maui school to use a 2GB system, expanding tech utilization limits for students and faculty.

Using the latest in computer technology, select charter school classrooms are being equipped with interactive 85-inch screens giving teachers and up to 6 students the ability to work collaboratively on various projects. Teachers can also monitor actual work in real-time on individual student computers and provide instructional intervention as needed.

The upgrade project is under the direction of Phil Schmidt, the director of Information Technologies at the Kīhei Charter School. When he began as a volunteer in 2000, the charter school graduated five students in its first year. Now, 24 years later, he is responsible for the technological hardware and software for the approximately 700 students expected to enroll in the 2024-2025 school year.

“While almost everything we do is touched by computer technology, the Kīhei Charter School ensures its graduates are educated about computer hardware and software and not afraid of the technology affecting their careers and lives,” said Schmidt. “The goal is to be sure that the children are safe and have the tools to enhance career opportunities after graduation.”

Kīhei Charter School graduates have gone on to work for NASA designing space equipment and as an engineer on the Blue Origin Project run by Jeff Bezos. Others have started their own successful computer businesses. 

According to Head of School Michael Stubbs, “Technology is not a substitute for the hands-on experiential learning model. Rather, it supplements and enhances the overall learning process. It is our mission to ensure that our students are prepared for the evolving modern world.”

One example of this merger of this technology and experiential learning can be found in the school’s fabrication laboratory. Here, students can design a project on their laptop computer and using innovative software print out a 3-D hard copy of what was designed on the student’s computer. Hard copy can be a house designed by the student, a tool that they may need and any equipment that may be necessary to build the project.

Computer hardware and software are continuing to constantly evolve. The charter school seeks to stay ahead of the curve, utilize the latest cutting-edge technology and provide a career ladder for students seeking a computer-based career, or who just want to be knowledgeable when questioned in interviews or experiencing challenges on the job.

As a reminder, there are still some seats available for registration in the first, second and third grades as well as in the high school. For more information on the charter school, go to kiheicharter.org.