Required Blog Article

I recently read this post on slashdot, titled "Some Schools Ending Laptop Programs." It is a shorter version of an article discussing this issue in the New York Times. The article reports that highschools, middleschools and elementary schools that had implemented laptop programs, which gave a laptop in every student, are now abandoning these programas. Schools instituted
these programs "... to prepare their students for a technology-driven world and to close the so-called digital divide between students who had computers at home and those who did not."
Although many school administrators and teachers say, "laptops in the classroom have motivated even reluctant students to learn, resulting in higher attendance and lower detention and dropout rates," they also point out that academic performance as measured through standardized test scores and grades have not improved since the programs were implemented and that the benefits do not outweigh the costs associated with these programs. In addition to the money originally used to finance these programs, such costs include maintenance costs, time spent tightening network security to deal with students hacking into local business and students viewing pornography sites, increased cheating problems, and computers operating slow due to so many students using them all at one time. Students are usually able to find ways around the tightened security networks. Money is being spent on maintenance fees as opposed to training teachers who are reluctant to incorporate these computers into their lesson plans. I think in order for the computers to be effective teachers need to be trained on how to properly use them as a teaching tool. I think placing the computes in a computer lab which would only be available to the students at certain times of the day would be more appropriate and would avoid many of the problems described above. It seems to me that many of the problems assocaited with giving each student a computer could have been foreseen if the schools had sent enough time researching the costs and benefits of this program and developing an appropriate implementation plan for their use. I definitely believe information technology if used correctly would benefit students and enhance their learning experience. In my opinion it is not necessary to give each student his or own computer. Students should definitely have access to a computer but only to do specific assignments and perhaps an additional couple of hours a week to allow them to practice and experience how useful an education and learning tool it can be. However, there must be strict controls to prevent students from visiting prohibited entertainment or pornographic sites. If used propely computers can make school and education more interesting and more enjoyable and thereby enhance the learning esperience. It also struck me that one major error made by the schools was that they immediately instituted the laptop program throughout entire school districts. What they should have done is first test the program in one school before implementing it throughout the school distirct. I am certain if this were done all the problems would have been identified and corrected, and I believe the laptop program would have been successful. Finally, teachers should have been consulted more extensively prior to instituting such a major program. Obtaining the full support of teachers is critical to the success of any educational program.