It has been said that laptops are the 21st century pencil and paper for schools. In some areas of the country, such as Michigan, California and Maine, laptop computer technology has been made available for middle and high school students. The Board of Education and teachers recognize the benefits of outfitting students with personal computers that they can use in school and at home in order to complete homework assignments. Laptops provide a continuum of technology that helps students stay up to date with technology and learn practical computing skills. In addition when students have access to technology they can experiment and create on their own time outside of the confines of the structured school day.
Faculty fluency can be a hindrance to utilizing technology- such as laptops. Many people in the Eisenhower era marvel at how their grandchildren can surf the web like a pro, program a DVD player and use other technology with ease. For some teachers there is a learning curve that needs to be addressed so that they can feel more comfortable and utilize the technology to its fullest potential as an aid to teaching.
Another hindrance to the utilization of laptop technology is the responsibility factor that students and their parents must buy in to. Some students are not mature enough to take personal care of their own laptop. In addition, some student laptops have been stolen or sold by some less than ethical people. Adding technology staff to the already budget strapped schools can be a deal breaker, but students and teachers cannot just be handed a laptop and be expected to maintain them properly. In some school districts parents have to pay a usage fee each year to help offset the costs for repairs and/or replacement of the computer should it be lost or damaged.
Laptops won’t take the place of traditional teachers, but can certainly enhance students learning experience when they are appropriately worked into the curriculum.