The pull for additional access to technology in the classroom, our move to a campus with a robust wireless network, current use of laptop kits and the teacher laptop program indicated our school’s need and preparedness for a one-to-one student laptop solution. Time restraints, budget and community preparedness have lead to the decision to fund laptops for a projected number of students. This recommendation, entirely within our projected technology budget, was made by the tech team and passed by the School Board last month. The program will be implemented during the 2007-2008 school year.
Our present use of school laptop kits, scheduling records and a broad range of research on other laptop programs indicated 7th grade as the grade level for the first year of the program. Doing a pilot year at one grade level will reduce stress and is a gradual way to explore one-to-one computing and customize a program for our school community. We will collect real evidence on usage, student preparedness and tech support needs. This low stress laptop program initiative will serve as a step towards a family owned laptop model. Initially school owned laptops will only be used at school. As the project progresses, home use of these laptops will be assessed and decided upon. Laptop management, cost, care and responsibility will become school and family concerns once there is a need for laptops to move between home and school.
The laptop model and type will be chosen by the 7th grade teachers within a price range that will meet our budget restraints. Open source software will be explored to meet some of our software computing needs during the pilot project.
Laptop use will fall within our Acceptable Use Policy as any other computer used on the school network. Students have already developed a game, movie, and music culture with personal computing devices. This project is designed to develop a culture of computer use as a productivity tool and personal digital learning assistant.
An important element of the laptop program will be meetings with parents about the laptop, its management and potential home use. These meetings will provide valuable information to develop newsletter articles, an FAQ document and parent support sessions addressing concerns unique to our school community. Increased use of our community tech blog about the laptop program and its progress will emerge as parents share their thoughts and excitement about the program.
During this first year all teachers will continue to integrate technology into their classrooms. Sixth and eighth grade classes will continue to use school laptop kits and our high school will continue to encourage the use of family owned laptops at school and home. It is during the high school years that students learn to manage and use laptops independently in preparation for college.
The elementary computer program will continue with its use of computer labs, classroom desktops, alpha smarts and moving sets of laptops. Additional handhelds with keyboards will also be integrated into some elementary classrooms. As the program in middle school progresses more resources will be freed up for elementary school use.
Assessment will be an ongoing part of the project. We will assess technology integration with a focus on higher order thinking skills, asking such questions as: Is this project successfully meeting our technology curriculum and integration goals? Are we creating a culture in school and homes that are using the systems as tools not toys? Are writing, research and communication improving? Are students more engaged in their work? Are we ready to move to a family owned laptop program? Survey Monkey assessment tools will be developed for student, parents and faculty to assess the program.
Technology is constantly evolving. The list of tools available increases daily. We are preparing our students to use the tools available today and those tools on the horizon as they develop their 21st Century skills.
We look forward to this program working in a positive fashion for everyone involved: students, faculty, parents, administrators and tech staff. Dialogue between AIS parents and staff has begun and we look forward to increased parental input as the program moves forward. We invite ALL parents, especially those of next year’s 7th grade (current 6th grade parents) to attend an informational meeting Thursday, May 17th at 7 p.m.
