School laptop program?

[SillyOldBear66]

Just wondering.......anyone else participated in a school laptop program like the one here in Maine?

DD was in 7th grade last year so she had a laptop all of last year.

At first glance I thought it would be a positive experience but DD did NOT feel that way. Her backpack is already so heavy it could topple her over. Add to that a laptop in a protective bag and she is exremely weighed down.
Can you imagine how different she would feel if all the textbooks were on the harddrive of the laptop? Then she would only have to tote the laptop. That would make a HUGE difference.
The only other issue was when the harddrive on her laptop died....but even that wasn't bad. Her project was backed up and she was issued a loaner.

She did have a lot of fun projects involving the laptop and the school is setup with wireless lan/internet so the kids really enjoyed that.


Anyone else?
If so.....how did it go?

 

[pumba]

school lsat year.....Lewiston did not have the computers.....but she said....she has one at home and they use the ones in the classroom ..so she was all set anyways.....I do hope that this program will help the kids that are not as fortunate to have access to one....the information in these and the projects that they can do is remarkable

OH YAH.....WELCOME FELLOW MANIAC.....glad to have some more mainers on the dis......if you need any help just yell

 

[Cindy B]

Well our elementary school is doing this for the first year this year.

However, they are doing it differently.
Instead of the laptops coming home, they are staying in school on a cart.. (I'm not sure if it is used per grade/per person or what) but they will all be wireless LAN type systems.


More information will be forthcoming on it.

 

[SillyOldBear66]

I do believe this is a great program. There are students in our area who would not have access to a computer if it weren't for this program. This program also includes internet access at home.....at no cost...for those who want it.

Pumba...thanks for the welcome! Hope you are enjoying the wonderful Maine summer!


Cindy.....great that your elementary school is doing this!!!
Our local school has the laptops locked into a tall cart that also charges them....when they aren't in use or aren't taken home at night. I wonder if it's the same system.
oh....and ours are .....*gulp*.....MACS.
(and I work for big blue... UGH!)

 

[damo]

There are varying degrees of laptop programs. One program at an exclusive private school in our area has the laptops replacing notebooks (i.e. no pens and papers) in all classes. Is this the program that you mean or does your school use them to a lesser extent, as in means to access information for projects and to produce a more professional quality report.

 

[SillyOldBear66]

At this point in time the laptop program in our area uses the laptops as an additional tool....not a replacement. I'd like to see it evolve into a replacement for textbooks to reduce the load these kids have to lug around.

They are used for research and reports.
Of course the laptops are used in computer class but also in every other class.....not every class every day but different times throughout the year.
One project I remember was the art class used them with great success to produce animation projects.

 

[disneybred]

I had a laptop for my four years of high school. The program was in its beginning stages when I started so it was kind of learn what works and what doesnt as you go. (we were one of the first in the area to start using them) We did use it in some classes to take notes and to look up things on the internet for assignments. We also did powerpoint presentations alot which I really liked to do. (it's a lot better than doing a report) This did help you to work on your presentation skills. We also used it in Chemistry with a temperature probe that was connected to our laptops and transmitted the change in temps to a program and graphed it. So we did use them, but not as much as we could have. The longer a school has been using the laptops, the better the program most likely is. Also, as technology becomes more advanced, its easier to give the kids lighter laptops than I had and to fit more programs on it. Another problem is that states aren't really up with technology yet so they won't pay for books on CDs instead of textbooks.
I now go to a college that has a mobile computing program. I don't think I could go to one where i didn't have a laptop. My one friend almost went through a withdrawl. You don't forget how to write or become addicted to computers or anything, but you can become really used to having your computer with you in class (and with you for most of the day and protecting it) Because of my laptop in high school, I have become better at certain programs, internet searching, and troubleshooting. It even helped me get a job in college with computer support.
Sorry this was so long, but there is alot to say about laptops in schools, especially from a student's perspective whose schools have set an example for other schools.

 

[Cindy B]

Originally posted by SillyOldBear66

Cindy.....great that your elementary school is doing this!!!
Our local school has the laptops locked into a tall cart that also charges them....when they aren't in use or aren't taken home at night. I wonder if it's the same system.
oh....and ours are .....*gulp*.....MACS.
(and I work for big blue... UGH!) [/B]

I guess its the same thing.. I know they aren't MACS but they are either Gateways or Dells.

I understand the logic behind it. But to us, its one more PC to us with the 16 we have in the house.. Yes, 16! (Some are just parts PCs, but about 10 of them are working!)

(in case you are wondering, this is what DH does for a living, and if his company doesn't want it , hes' got parts and PC to take home.) We already have three laptops at home!

As for people not having one and needing a PC, all he needs to do is talk to my DH. He has the authority to give them away via a program at his work.

 

[Mermaid02]

Another Maineiac here...... at our school the kids were not allowed to take the laptops home.... they could use them in school only.... they couldn't take notes on them, not enough paper for the school to print them out. Someone knocked my dd's off of her desk...... it was broken.....

This (IMO) has been a huge waste. I would much prefer to see the schools buy duplicate text books so the kids can have a set at home and a set at school...... my dd's back hurts most of the time from carrying that darn backpack. Even my dd (who was so excited about the laptops) says now that she hates them.... they are more of a pain than a help.

I hope the whole project is scrapped.

 

[Cindy B]

Originally posted by Mermaid02

This (IMO) has been a huge waste. I would much prefer to see the schools buy duplicate text books so the kids can have a set at home and a set at school...... my dd's back hurts most of the time from carrying that darn backpack. Even my dd (who was so excited about the laptops) says now that she hates them.... they are more of a pain than a help.

Intersting thought about books.. so the books can't go home? What about homework?

I've noticed in the upper grades at school (I work with 7th), some kids do get two sets of books but not all. (the classified kids with learning disabilities.. and such)

But the books do go home if homework is assigned. Funny, my team works on the homework assigned so they don't carry every book home with them!

In fact, most of the teachers do a lot of in class projects.

 

[SillyOldBear66]

Originally posted by Cindy B
(In case you are wondering, this is what DH does for a living, and if his company doesn't want it , hes' got parts and PC to take home.) We already have three laptops at home!

Oh Cindy! This had me cracking up. I can relate but from your husbands point of view! I'M the one who is constantly bringing home computer equipment. I can't help myself. There are currently 5 working machines at my home but that changes all the time. Like two weeks ago when my aunt was visiting from out of state. She doesn't have a computer at home so I quickly threw one together and loaded it in her car. Of course....last night I spent over an hour on the phone with her helping her get her dial up internet setup. I don't have the heart to tell her CALL TECH SUPPORT.

I also have a habit of setting up little projects just to see if I can.
Does your husband do this?
It's things like.....
Setting up the network to play Nerf Arena Blast (sort of doom but with nerf guns) at xmas with enough machines for 10 people to play.
Setting up a webcam to find out what the dog does all day while we are at work.

I overheard DH telling a friend...."I'm afraid I'll use the tv remote and the coffee maker will switch on. She's got everything connected to everything!!"

 

[Mermaid02]

Books go home..... laptops do NOT. The books are so darn heavy- a 2nd (one to stay at home and one to stay at school) set would reduce the load my child has to carry to and from school every day. My kids have to walk to school.

 

[Cindy B]

Originally posted by SillyOldBear66
Oh Cindy! This had me cracking up. I can relate but from your husbands point of view! I'M the one who is constantly bringing home computer equipment. I can't help myself. There are currently 5 working machines at my home but that changes all the time.

I also have a habit of setting up little projects just to see if I can.
Does your husband do this?
It's things like.....
Setting up the network to play Nerf Arena Blast (sort of doom but with nerf guns) at xmas with enough machines for 10 people to play.
Setting up a webcam to find out what the dog does all day while we are at work.

I!"

Well, lets see with the six servers with the 16 PC's... its network city around here. Six servers, floor to ceiling rack, monitors all over the place,etc... it dominates the basement.

We have only one TV but 16 PC's in the house!

 

[Cindy B]

Originally posted by Mermaid02
Books go home..... laptops do NOT. The books are so darn heavy- a 2nd (one to stay at home and one to stay at school) set would reduce the load my child has to carry to and from school every day. My kids have to walk to school.

My kids are walkers too.. I understand what you mean. Thats a tough situation... I mean the school district can do the "not every person has a computer, and we are giving them a leg up" scenario..

but as you can see, we have about 4 PC's PER PERSON in our house... I think computers are more and more accessible to everyone so that argument isn't that valid anymore.

Most libraries/schools and colleges have internet access, so it can be accessed that way as well.