Learning Benefits Seen in Laptop Initiative

Sustaining a laptop program at a middle school in Michigan requires a wireless vision and parent purchasing power.

After a decade of running a 1-to-1 laptop program at Sarah Banks Middle School, it’s safe to say the educators there have learned many lessons about what makes such an initiative work.

Much has changed since the program was first launched in 1999 at the Detroit-area school, says Mark Hess, now the principal of the school but a teacher there when the program began.

Back then, teachers and students mostly used Microsoft Office software programs, since the students’ laptops did not have Internet capabilities. The computers’ battery packs weren’t nearly as strong or sophisticated as they are now, and keeping the laptops charged was a...

This article is available to subscribers only.

To keep reading this article and more, subscribe now or start a 2-week FREE trial.

Already have an account? Please login.


Subscribe to Education Week

You Save 20% or More!

Premium Online + Print


20 issues + Online Access
$39

You Save 20%

SUBSCRIBE NOW

(See details.)

Premium Online


6 Months Online Access
$29

You Save 22%

SUBSCRIBE NOW

(See details.)


Most Popular Stories

Viewed

Emailed

Recommended

Commented