Focus on Teaching & Learning

I came across this concise, yet cogent look at Maine's Learning Technology Initiative and their statewide laptop program (You'll probably be seeing a lot of references to Maine's program as they were the first to implement such a program and much of the literature available is based on research on the same.) at the National Association of Elementary Principals site.

"Laptops for Learning"

http://www.naesp.org/ContentLoad.do?contentId=126

The article points to 4 lessons that can be learned by looking at Maine's program: (1) Focus on Learning; (2) Use Technology to Enhance the Curriculum (3) Increase the Relevancy of Schooling (4) Send the Laptops Home

Of particular interest was the recognition that in order for a program like this to be successful there must be a focus on teaching and learning as opposed to a focus on the hardware/software. The quantity vs. quality issue rises again. Yes, each of our middle school students has a laptop, but HOW can we use it effectively to positively impact student learning? The author quotes a study by Schacter (1995), who concludes that "one of the most enduring difficulties about technology and education is that a lot of people think about the technology first and the education later." I think this is the key to why the laptop program with our 7th graders is not up to par. A grant made the technology available, but no one thought ahead enough to consider what kind of professional development implications it had. Maine's success is due in great part to the fact that this contingency was considered and that they "devoted extensive resources to professional development for teachers...".

Along these same lines the author notes that "some people outside the schools mistakenly think that the objective is to make sure that all the students are trained in the use of technology." I think you could add "some people inside the schools" to that statement as well. If teachers are using the technology to enhance the curriculum then the tech skills will trickle down through the pipeline along with the content material they're using the technology to learn. Seamless integration of this sort by all teachers at all levels is a daunting task, but should be the ultimate goal.

This article advocates that student be able to bring the laptops home and points to the benefits enjoyed by the "whole family." While it is certainly important to bridge the gap between home and school (i.e. students using the computer for everything at home and then going to school and hand writing their assignments), it is important to consider the demographics as well. Richard noted in one of my other posts a connection to Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs and pointed out that a student with laptop access, even at home, still isn't going to "make the necessary connections" if his basic needs are not being met.