Laptop Learning

American School Board Journal: July 2002 by Glen Cook

http://www.asbj.com/2002/07/0702coverstory.html

Can we level the playing ground by providing laptops for all students to use? Henrico County Public Schools attempted this plan by providing laptops to all middle school and high school students. In order to do this, they signed a four-year lease agreement with Apple for $18.6 million to pave the way of the future. The parents needed to purchase a $50 insurance policy and the school district even offered payment plans to those that could not afford to pay all at once. As all eyes watched to see if this task would reduce the gap of learning to those who have verses those who have not, the initiative proved successful with just a few minor downfalls.

Finding this article reaffirmed many of my preconceived notions about how money affects a student’s learning. If only we could provide every child with the access to the computer, I don’t think we would leave as many children behind. My principal has been in pursuit of following a similar laptop learning model. My only concern is, that in our building all of our children can afford the access to the computer, but may not have the parents to monitor it. I have even been asked to teach a class with laptops 24/7. But I am not sure that I can justify the expense in my school, because the playing field is already level.