Blog 1: Laptop Computers

Description

Although they do not have as much capacity as desktops laptops computers when incorporated into the school setting have the potential in to increase student achievement. Integration not only in computer classes but all classes can help students grasp material better and develop high order think skills.

Key Findings

In the article, "Lessons Learned About Providing Laptops for All Students" Bonifaz and Zucker discuss issues that focus on providing all students with laptop computers. States focus on 1:1 ratios where each student has the opportunity to have their own laptop to assist them with the academic endeavors. Policymakers goals for laptop initiatives include increasing economic competitiveness, reducing inequities in access to computers and information between students from wealthy and poor families, and raising student achievement through specific interventions. Also, Bonifaz and Zucker add that a good leadership team focusing on: curriculum and content, the culture of the building, and technical needs are essential in making the initiative successful. For states and countries interested in promoting the laptop initiative Bonifaz and Zucker offer five categories to help including: Planning, Training & Professional Development, Managing Change, and Monitoring & Evaluation.

            In the article, "Research: What it says About 1 to 1 Learning" researchers at Apple Computers believe the 1 to 1 initiatives can help the transition in schools from occasional use to an integral use across several settings. Most research has found that students involved with the initiatives mainly use the laptops for writing, taking notes, completing homework assignments, keeping organized, communicating with peers and their teachers, and researching topics on the Internet and for these tasks, they are using word-processing software, web browsers, email, and chat.

Reflection

I have always been a huge fan of helping students advance academically and in today's society knowing how to incorporate and use technology is vital now and for the future. I teach Digital Communication Systems and Business Law and I have enough computers for all of my students. I would not be able to operate and teach the curriculum without them. However, my class is the only time many students have access to a computer. There is a stark difference between the students who have access to a computer at home and those who do not. If students do not use the skills they learn on a consistent basis, they will lose it. Many students may have taken a computer course in middle school, but if they don?t use the programs and apply the material taught, they lag behind when I get them as sophomores and juniors.

There is supposed to be technology incorporated in every subject, with maybe one computer in each class, it is difficult for those without them to incorporate, let alone many teachers don't understand the technology themselves. With technology being at the forefront of our society and with almost every decent job requiring some type of computer skills, our students need to be ready and providing laptops for them will help do so.

The portability of the laptop allows the student to have access to technology in a variety of arenas. Those without computers at home will not be able to complete assignments there. Many times teachers do not take into account that every student does not have the same equipment or access to technology outside of the classroom. I make sure that everything that I do involving technology can be done in the class. I try to arrange time around the average student, but those that are slower would be prime examples of why the laptop initiative would be important. These students have to resort to going to the public libraries, staying after school, and losing lunchtime to complete work. Also, teachers without desktops would be able to integrate technology more. Students have the laptops on hand and the issue of reserving computer labs will become obsolete.

Students will also have a chance to educate others around them. A student whose household does not have a computer or whose household is computer illiterate, will have the opportunity to share this technology with others. Parents who never got the chance to experience this will now learn from the child, and by teaching, the student is gaining more comprehension of the material taught.

In my computer lab, I would much rather have laptops than the desktops. The laptops would create greater space for the students to do other work. If the students were al given laptops, they could just come in and set up. Since laptops are portable, students would not have to be held up in a lab to complete assignments. In my DCS class, we introduce students to business documents such as minutes and agendas. As a service project, students would have to link with an organization and take the minutes at a meeting. Since the student has access to the laptop, they are able to input the minutes and possibly distribute the minutes by print or email instantaneously.

Posted at 08:53AM Nov 17, 2006 by MCCRAY, CATRICE in General  |  Comments[0]