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Subject: Re: laptops vs.textbooks
Posted By: William L. Rukeyser
Date: February 16, 1999 at 13:37:05
In Response to: laptops vs.textbooks - posted by nullLarry Steffen on February 08, 1999 at 17:49:23

> I am a teacher in a small 36 student school/District in central California, with grades 5-8 in my self-contained classroom.

> We have 11 computers for 18 students, 6 of which run CD ROMs, and the others discs.

> My thoughts are as follows.
> If made available, the excellent educational CD's with sequential instruction and self-testing now on sale at under $10.00 would make free laptops an incredible educational resource to our students. Classrooms with large CD Sign-Out Libraries would also be essential.

> In addition, if classrooms and homes were internet-connected and fully interactive, and each of our students' desks or "learning-stations", were linked, free laptops would have great value.

> Without CD libraries and the home/school/community connectivity, the alternative to students receiving free laptops is to use the many free game CD's available which have marginal educational value. Students now get these in computer game magazines, at swap meets and elsewhere.

> I favor short-term pilot projects in communities which already have some level of inter-connectivity (one in Colorado) and school initiated implementation if student learning benefits are measured.

> Applied, this concept would allow students more interpersonal contact with teachers and students in cooperative work groups each day, home time to download course assignments and the ability to up-load completed work promptly before class time each day.

I think you've made a number of excellent points which illuminate why students who are isolated (in any one of a number of ways) can benefit from technology at an earlier age than most.

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* Comments: > > I am a teacher in a small 36 student school/District in central California, with grades 5-8 in my self-contained classroom. > > We have 11 computers for 18 students, 6 of which run CD ROMs, and the others discs. > > My thoughts are as follows. > > If made available, the excellent educational CD's with sequential instruction and self-testing now on sale at under $10.00 would make free laptops an incredible educational resource to our students. Classrooms with large CD Sign-Out Libraries would also be essential. > > In addition, if classrooms and homes were internet-connected and fully interactive, and each of our students' desks or "learning-stations", were linked, free laptops would have great value. > > Without CD libraries and the home/school/community connectivity, the alternative to students receiving free laptops is to use the many free game CD's available which have marginal educational value. Students now get these in computer game magazines, at swap meets and elsewhere. > > I favor short-term pilot projects in communities which already have some level of inter-connectivity (one in Colorado) and school initiated implementation if student learning benefits are measured. > > Applied, this concept would allow students more interpersonal contact with teachers and students in cooperative work groups each day, home time to download course assignments and the ability to up-load completed work promptly before class time each day. > I think you've made a number of excellent points which illuminate why students who are isolated (in any one of a number of ways) can benefit from technology at an earlier age than most. >