Technology In The Classroom: Chief Sez' Make It So

WDFW ENFORCEMENT CHIEF BRUCE BJORK has been one of the strongest advocates ever for strengthening hunter education in the Evergreen State. Last year, for example, Chief Bjork traded confiscated firearms—reluctantly “donated” to WDFW by various wildlife violators—for the new .22LR, 20-gauge and .223 firearms we now use in training statewide.

Earlier this year, at the Yakima in-service training program, Chief Bjork heard from instructors and instructor associations about the need for computer technology in our classes. In a typical show of support for hunter education, the chief directed hunter education staff to investigate ways to transfer surplus laptop computers from Fish and Wildlife Enforcement Officers to hunter education instructors. Even though the use of surplus laptop computers led to a dead end (detailed below), the chief wanted to honor his commitment to expanding the use of technology in the class. Soon hunter education staff will have 18—that’s right, eighteen!—digital light projectors (DLP) for instructors to use in classroom presentations. If instructors can get the laptops, WDFW can now provide the projectors. You’ve seen Chuck Ray and Dan Boes using these DLPs for several years and beginning in July they will be available to you, too.

Sideboards first. DLPs are expensive and cannot be shipped to and from instructors. Projectors will be available on a first-come, first-served basis at regional offices. Compliance with an “equipment logbook” is required, so instructors verify what they check out and check back in to the regional office. And, finally, DLPs will not be assigned to instructors on a permanent basis until we have some track history regarding needs, use, distribution issues, etc. (7087)

Why couldn’t we add laptops to the mix? First and most importantly, the laptops in question are all older models that have bounced around in officers’ rigs for years. (No, we don’t have 4x4 laptops yet!) Also, all laptops would be “bare,” meaning that no software would be supplied. Due to other work demands, tech support would also be non-existent. And, finally, state ethics rules would prevent the use of any state laptop for personal e-mails, or any non-hunter education use. All in all, investing in new DLPs seemed the better route to implement the chief’s goal of expanding use of technology in the hunter education classroom.