LAPTOPS 2.0

The goal of Maine’s laptop program was to ensure that technology became an ally to students, rather than an obstacle. Numerous studies have found that this has happened, so it is welcome news that the program has been renewed for another four years.

After lawmakers included the money in the state budget, the Maine Department of Education recently signed a $41 million agreement with Apple Computer Corp. to provide new laptops to more than 30,000 seventh- and eighth-grade students and their teachers over the next four years. The new computers have more memory, faster processors and built-in DVD drives and will cost $289 each, less than the $300 per machine in the original contract. Upgraded wireless networks and professional development for each of Maine’s 241 public middle schools are also included in the contract.

The deal is also available to high school and elementary schools as well as private schools. Districts would be wise to use a portion of their technology budget to buy the low-cost, well-equipped computers. Older computers will be upgraded using privately raised funds and then used in other grades, spreading the state’s investment even further.

While more works needs to be done to correlate test scores with laptop use, the Maine Learning Technology Initiative, as the program is officially known, is improving teaching and learning, according to a recent survey by the Center for Education Policy, Applied Research and Evaluation at the University of Southern Maine.

Teachers reported that they could access more up-to-date information, customize curriculum to meet student needs and explore topics in greater depth because of the laptops. As a result, teachers said students participated more in class, were more motivated and did more work independently with the individual computers.

Students said there were more interested in school and that their work has improved because of the laptops. In addition to the expected use of computers to produce documents and to find information, students routinely use databases to sort information and use spreadsheets to create graphs.

In 2001, the Task Force on Maine’s Learning Technology Endowment said “Our schools are challenged to prepare young people to navigate and prosper in this world, with technology as an ally rather than an obstacle.” Five years later, Maine has made technology an ally.

Getting the technology in the hands of students was a big step – for which Maine received accolades from around the world. Ensuring it remains up-to-date is necessary or technology will once again become an obstacle.

This new contract ensures that won’t happen. The next challenge is to get laptops to the state’s high school students.