Laptops for All! October 10, 2007
Posted by SuperTech in General, Technology Curriculum.trackback
Last week, I had the opportunity to attend the AETA Fall Symposium. It was a great conference with plenty of helpful information. One of the sessions that I found interesting was on the 1:1 initiative. Several school districts have already taken this step. They chose a grade level to start with and gave each teacher and student a laptop. We discussed how you prepare to take this major step — funding, maintenance, professional development, parental involvment, student training, etc… I can see how it would be great in the classroom. What could you do if every student in your class/school had a laptop? What would you worry about?
I would love it!!! My students can take what I’m teaching in the Computer lab and work on that project anytime they have extra time in their classroom. They would be able to access the most current resources for their academic learning. The world would literally be at their fingertips. History would alive. Their learning would have meaning. They can take what they are learning and share it with the world through blogs and wikis. I would worry about how to protect them from the dangers of the internet (inappropriate websites, predators). Cyber bulling would also be a major issue. Trying to create a safe environment with structure in the cyberworld would be a full time job.
Laptops for all students would be wonderful. Students would be able to keep up with assignments and create more sophisticated projects. I would be concerned about the laptops being damaged or lost.
we could do very many things. there would be great need for training on how the computer can be used as a tool.
also at my school they are very rough on books so i can only imagine how they would treat a computer.
It would be awesome if every student in my classroom had laptops!
Big problem is staff members that can’t use their own computers, much less lead a whole class in using them.
Funding
Care of computers
Tech support
I think in K-5, it would be easier for teachers to integrate more with a laptop than a heavy, basically stationary desktop.
You could explore sites and learn research techniques much more quickly.
I would not worry about anything as long as each teacher had a control program that limited student access to the internet.
There would need to be extensive teacher training before implementation.
WOW, I must have come through the Dark Ages. I think that every child and teacher with a laptop could revolutionize teaching. But, are teacher ready and willing? I agee the “pre” work, laying rules and setting goals and standard would be a must. I shudder to think just how far a class could go with everyone working on a laptop, with all the available resources to students.
I would love for each of my students to have a laptop. As you know I am a reading specialist, I would scan the tradebooks we are reading and allow students to create podcasts of their reading of the books. I would also download powerpoints with their sight words, phonics patterns, and reading phrases so that students could practice their reading at home. One last thing that would be nice is to have webpapges posted in their favorites for them to interact with while at home. My biggest fear would be the up keep and maintance of the laptops!
Jackie
Can you do math problems on a laptop? I love technology and I want to put technology in the hands of kids… But do we need a computer in every aspect of learning? Kids need to learn to write, don’t they? As a former 3rd grade teacher, you can’t teach students cursive writing on a laptop.
It would be nice to have the laptops “at the ready” for kids to use. I wonder how often the teacher would be fixing laptop issues and not teaching.
When (and if) the funding becomes available, I will be thrilled (but probably retired)!
I think it would be nice to have laptops, but I would be concerned about repairs and maintenance. Would the first purchased computers last until all have received them? Will teachers receive training to use them so that it doesn’t turn out to be a waste of money?
It would be great to have laptops for every student. Classes could complete more projects using technology. Students could have on-demand access to unlimited resources such as AVL. I would worry about keeping up with what websites students where visiting. It would be hard to keep students involved in what you are teaching, instead of playing games. I would also worry about making sure students take care of the computers. The wireless laptops at my school have been being used for 1 year and the screws that keep the screen up are constantly falling out b/c they get opened and closed so often.
I would like all students and teachers to have laptops because I can just imagine all my library students sitting on the floor or at tables doing projects. My teachers have all my laptops checked out. These are the ones I thought were purchased for the students. It’s because they are using projectors in their classrooms and Promethan boards. I would like for all teachers and students to have a laptop available to them. I would worry about my tranfer students because I can’t get their libary books back much less a computer back. I worry about my students that don’t even have electicity and water. How will they access a computer at home? Repair /Training will also need to be a concern.
Since my classroom is a computer, I already have this as a reality. Granted, the computers in my classroom are desktops, but it truly is great.
I teach a Finance class which is not compter based, but since the students have access to the computers we use them, usually every day. They look up stock quotes, research financial markets and concepts, and can easily type their thoughts when given individual or group assignments.
I can save files on the class network that students can easily open and work on right there on the computer. This means that I don’t have to make lots of copies of handouts, assignments or tests.
If every student and every teacher had their hands on a laptop, the possibilities would be endless. If you go ask any classroom teacher what would help them increase their level of technology integration, the answer would always be “More computers.” Granted, there are some pretty fantastic educators doing snazzy things with just 1 or 2 computers in their classroom, but more computers means more interactive learning for the kids. I think that ultimately this opportunity would change the way we teach. Having said that, I wouldn’t hand over one machine without explicit and thorough training. Kids love computers! They cherish whatever time you give them with a PC. But, they would still need to be taught proper care and maintenance techniques, and explained the consequences for abuse and damage.