Graphics Toolbox Software Encourages Creativity

Lynda Holler demonstrates the use of the new technology to students Christopher Froessel, 9 and to Caitlin Howard, 11. ERIC GROSS Every Monday evening nine fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh graders meet at St. Lawrence O’Toole School in Brewster to learn technology by expressing themselves with computer graphics.

The eight boys and one girl are being taught Graphic Software for Kids—a program initiated by Lynda Holler of Brewster, whose company, Great Software Tools, developed Graphics Toolbox.

Holler explained her program could be used by people of all ages because, “in today’s world we are surrounded by images. People respond to those images that catch our eye. We must teach students that the appearance of their work is as important as its content. In school, students have their teachers as captive audiences but in the real world no one will read a message if the presentation is not appealing.”

Holler called her program the “Photo Shop for everyone else who is not a trained graphics professional. Children work with graphics in ways they never were able to do before, by manipulating and combining photos, coloring clip art, and using Internet images as well as their own art work, by moving materials around and creating professionallooking graphic work on the computer at a young age.”

Holler said it didn’t matter if a child becomes a hair stylist, excavator, lawyer, brain surgeon, or a Web site designer: “Each must sell himself or herself to get the job or be awarded the contract. With today’s economy it is critical to teach students how to create the right image and stand out from the competition.”

Holler’s program is currently being used at the Pawling Middle School and she has a contract pending with the New York City School system.

Joan Roberts, technology coordinator for the Pawling District, said, “Years ago, typing was done by typists. Then word-processing was born, and with a learning curve, everyone learned how to type and format their own documents. With the Graphics Toolbox, we all will now learn how to manipulate and control our graphics, as well.”

Holler said the program also instills children with great pride because they are able to create projects by themselves: “Cutting and pasting and gluing are no longer suitable for middleschool children. These pre-teens must be prepared and learn about creating professional layouts depicting how they think and feel.”

Holler noted that her program is also greatly beneficial for children with learning disabilities, as well as for children enrolled in English as a Second Language classes, because “it evens the playing field for them. Children with learning problems can be thinking and working visually when they might not be able to put their information down in writing.”

Holler is a parishioner at St. Lawrence O’Toole Church in Brewster. She met recently with the church pastor, the Rev. Robert McKeon, who encouraged the businesswoman to bring the program to the church, since the former St. Lawrence School, which closed last year, contains a fully equipped computer lab.

The program is allowing the use of the lab and its computers while at the same time providing a new educational tool to groups of children.

Holler will be offering a class to adults in the next few weeks that will allow them to make original, religious Christmas cards.

Holler can be reached by calling 278- 4240 or on line at Lynda@greatsoftwaretools. com.