LM_NET: Library Media Networking
Here are the responses I received regarding districts that have
purchased laptops for teachers, and what effect this has brought --
--------
Our school corporation purchased laptops for all the teachers a few
years ago. I wasn't here before this happened so I can't tell you
the difference it made. What I can tell you is that almost every
teachers uses his or her laptop every day for Internet, word processing,
and grade keeping.
-----------
Our district, Grosse Ile, Michigan had this policy. Now, it is funded
by the state so the
whole state of Michigan now has this policy of furnishing teachers with
a laptype.
----------
My husband teaches in a district that went from k-6 to k-12 this past
summer. He is in the middle school. Each teacher recently received an
iBook
laptop. So far they have to stayt locked in the school at night, which
is a
shame, since that is the time most teachers have to learn about it. It
has a
tracker ball instead of a mouse, which takes some getting used to. There
is
no classroom computer - this iBook is it - but there is supposed to be a
way
to hook it into the large tv monitor mounted on the wall in each
classroom.
We'll see about that! The parents were up in arms at the last board
meeting
because there aren't enough text books to go around - I doubt too much
more
money will be spent on technology for now.
-------------
I'm going to forward this email message to my husband who is an
instructional technologist for out school district. They too are in the
process of doing this and he would probably like to discuss the topic
with
you.
----------
In our school district, there is training for each teacher called
"Computers
for Teachers."
Teachers do have to take the training during after school hours or on
Saturdays or in the summer.
At the end of their training ( with no missed training), they are
assigned a
computer for their classroom.
The Librarins may take the training, but are not issued a computer at
this
time.
The computers are not lap-tops, just the traditional kind.
-----------
Several years ago, when we were very crunched for space, every teacher
who taught 75% time and wanted one, was given a school-owned laptop.
We justified it that many teachers did not even have a permanent desk at
the time. It also wasn't appropriate to have teachers in the computer
labs
working on grades or assignments sitting next to students. The effect
was dramatic! E-mail use and communication has grown and evolved.
Progress reports and grades are being done with computers. Many
teachers have web sites for their curriculum. The demand for LCD
projectors has gone up (reminds me of when videotapes
first came out and we couldn't have enough vcr machines.) They have
their
students creating PowerPoint projects. They are creating curriculum
using
this tool. They have been offered professional development classes to
teach new skills. I major roar would be heard if these tools were taken
away!
----------
We circulate 14 laptops to teachers for home and school use.
It works out quite well. The loan policy is 3 days with a 3day renewal
unless they are going to
a conference or need one for a summer class
I',m not sure how many teachers we have. Our enrollment is 1350.
------------
The teachers in the entire state of Michigan were given laptops or
funding
for alternative technology last year. You can see some of the results
on
Michigan's state website.
------------
I don't know if someone has told you already. In Michigan, our governor
has decided that
teachers should be entitled to laptops. Some of us are using our monies
in different ways and
making laptops available for checkout. Others are getting the
laptops. One bone of
contention is that library media specialists are not eligible, as are
counelors or other
teachers who are not in a formal classroom setting.
-------------
Hi! As a private school, we don't have this, but I think it would be
GREAT! Most teachers do
have a desktop model in their classroom, but only the office, library
and computer lab are
internet ready. Laptops would be super!
-------------
Our school district has placed a big, huge order for teacher lap tops.
Our school will be receiving 30 of them, hopefully in February. If you
get any responses I would love to have a copy of them. thanks-
------------
Please post a hit as we are debating this very issue. Also, are there
any plans to furnish
students with their own laptops?
-------------
We have just begun issuing a few laptops in our corporation (approx.
1700
students). Most of these have been issued to teachers who have become
involved in a special program or grant opportunity. This year, 10 have
just
completed the Intel Teach to the Future program and they received a
laptop
to use for the remainder of the school year. Eight high school and two
elementary teachers have received laptops because of special programs.
I agree with you. The teachers love them. I have seen teachers who never
work on anything at home carry their laptop home to work on a unit or a
test. Many of these teachers will hate to give up the laptop at the end
of
the year. (We are planning to put them in a wireless cart.) I honestly
believe teachers should be given a choice between a laptop and a
desktop.
Most of them would choose the laptop.
-----------------
Our school/school system does not furnish laptops to teachers. In fact,
the
school has had to raise computer funds themselves through candy and gift
wrap sales, grant applications, and other fund raisers sponsored by the
PTA.
They want us to have and use technology, but are not willing to put it
in
our budgets; however, I notice that the administrative offices all have
nice
new computers.
---------------
The state of Michigan established a program last year where each teacher
could obtain a laptop computer or various other
approved computer technology items such as a digital camera, scanner,
Elmo, etc. Most of the teachers applied for these items
through the process initiated by the state. An on-line pre-assessment
had to be completed. A follow-up assessment will come later
this school year.
It has been a wonderful way to get teachers invested in technology.
---------------
Years ago, when NPR was doing a series on technology in schools, I heard
a
story about a district in Washington state where, before putting in
labs,
etc., they gave every teacher a computer (laptop?). Their rationale was
that
teachers would not use the computers -- no matter where they were
(classroom, lab) if they didn't feel comfortable with them, and the only
way
that they would feel comfortable would be if they actually had one to
use!
It created an uproar at first, especially among parents, but in the end
proved to be very successful.
-------------------
I was wondering if you were going to post a hit concerning the laptops.
My district has some administrators VEHEMENTLY
opposed to anyone having one, so much so that grants have had to be
re-written to exclude purchase of laptops. Just tonight I was
at a meeting where community members asked us what we were going to be
doing in the area of wireless, etc. We all had to bite
our tongues! I would be very interested in your findings. I have
already started a document containing your post. This would be at
your convenience, of course!
-----------------
This year, all of the teachers in our district received the use of a new
iBook (Ice version). The only stipulation was that they had to complete
24 hrs. of in-service training sometime during the school year. We are
providing a variety of methods for them to earn those hours through
workshop days and after school training classes.
People that have never gotten into using the computer are taking the
plunge. The results have been fantastic. I think that everyone, staff
and administration, are extremely pleased with the results
-----------------
This is one of the signing bonus for our teachers. Unfortunately I
haven't seen the great use of the laptops by them. Mainly because they
are still trying to figure out what to teach. I also think that there
was
not enough in-service done to show them how to really use them in the
classroom. The only in-service that they receive is administrative use
of
their machines
-----------------
Our high school teachers received lap tops this Sept. so I don't
have definitive answers, but....... They definitely have helped
teachers
expand their own tech skills. Several have already had students doing
power point presentations through the teacher's lap top. (and the
teacher's developed one first as an example.)
We also just became networked. The biggest change I see is the
increase in communication. The email has skyrocketed. Most of it is
great, and has facilitated communitcation between many different groups
of
teachers and staff. We are much more information literate.
I hope by the end of the school year that I will be able to
report
more advances. Each person has their own learning curve, but we're all
growing.
--------------------
Wake County in NC has provided a number (sorry I don't know exactly how
many) of technology schools with IBM thinkpads for the faculty.
There are about 150 faculty members at the school where I work.
Prereq. a team of teachers had to attend about 2 years worth of
technology classes to gain skills which they in turn would share with
the
rest of the faculty.
Faculty is responsible for insuring them.
---------------
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