Journal #6

Laptop Program Update

By: Pamela Livingston

Three years ago, Pamela Livingston wrote about a day in the life of a middle school student at Peck Middle School. In the article, she mentioned about a then six-year-old laptop program in which students had access to lap tops. Ms. Livingston visited the school again last year and noticed that the school had expanded their laptop program to include younger students. Laptops are moving into the lower grades, with sixth graders experiencing the one-to-one program. Sixth grade teachers are using lap tops to integrate activities in their English, History, Math, and Science classes. Moreover, they have extended their wireless network into classrooms; therefore, students are able to use e-mail, network saving and printing and access to the Internet. Subsequently, the shift in laptop availability has decided the school to take a bold move and eliminate their seventh and eighth grade technology classes. As a result, Teachers in every classroom are required to implement technology into their classroom. In addition, this change has made their sixth grade technology class more important. This class provides the skills used in math, science, English, and history. For instance, before starting a history project, sixth graders learn about appropriate websites where they can go and find information about a certain topic. One important program that is introduced to these students is called the LARK program. This program teaches students about Legal, Appropriate, Responsible, and Kind concepts about computers. Peck and many other schools are doing tremendous things with their one-to-one programs. There will be an entire generation of students soon who will have known firsthand the advantage of learning during this digital age. Many of these students won’t even be aware that not so long ago learning with computers meant leaving your classroom and walking to the computer lab once a week for isolated, non-integrated lessons.

What can be one of the negative aspects of introducing a wireless network inside the classrooms?

Teachers may encounter problems such as students visiting inappropriate websites; therefore, I think it's important for teachers to be constantly monitoring their student's activities.

At what age should students be introduced to technological tools?

I think the earlier the better, there are so many educational programs designed for children of all ages that can set them off to a good start in school.