Of course its not free - it costs taxpayers about $11 million a year or about $250 bucks per student. But to me that seems like a really, really good deal. Arming our students with the one tool that can make or break their success in the employment markets of the future should be done at any price. Kids love computers, they love games and surfing the internet and chatting with each other - and all of these things can be applied to education. There's a teacher in NC using World Of Warcraft in his classroom. (1) Chatting with each other can lead to collaborative projects and teaching students to gather information quickly and effectively via the internet is pretty much a no brainer.
But this laptop decision had a marked effect on many other areas of education in Maine. Writing scores have improved, in one district the number of students needing remedial math assistance has been cut in half and math scores overall have improved by over 40%. And when everyone gets a laptop, everyone gets the boost. Family income in this case is no barrier to progress - all students have equal access to technology.
“Every middle school student in Maine has equal access to the technology and tools," Bucciantini said. "It's as important now as having a textbook and pencil, possibly more so.” (2)
Students are creating movies in PE class, documentaries in social studies, multi media in civics and many math classes have gotten rid of text books entirely.
One of the quotes I really identified with was the parent who said the laptops revolutionized science projects. I remember the hours with poster board and glue sticks and can't even imagine the types of projects students are able to produce today with the wealth of available software and tools. And many of them, as we've used in our class this semester, are free.
Critics say then students will spend too much time on Facebook or surfing the web... Hey critics - they are doing that ANYWAY! Or playing video games or the like - but if they are flipping back and forth between google chat posts and their homework - well, at least they don't have the computer propped up on a closed textbook.
New Hampshire (where I live) is WAY behind the curve on this front but maybe positive results like those in Maine will show legislators and educators that the old way isn't what will work for our kids - computers are here to stay so teaching them to use the technology effectively and responsibility is truly the best education we can offer.
check out the full article below - its a great read.
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