State's high school teachers getting hooked on free laptops
Portland Press Herald, November 5, 2007
(excerpt) In 2006 the Legislature extended the program another four years, and the state Education Department renewed a contract with Apple Computer to supply the laptops. The $41 million contract covers the costs of 38,000 new laptops, training and technical support, including the $2 million needed to extend the program to high school teachers.
Technology has invaded public school classrooms over the past decade. Teachers now keep track of attendance and grades electronically and depend on e-mail to communicate with parents.
The new computers make those tasks easier and also allow teachers to collaborate with each other in new ways, said Bette Manchester, who oversees the program for the state Department of Education.
Teachers are hungry to learn more about how to use technology in their classrooms, said Craig Dickinson, business manager for the Association of Computer Technology Educators of Maine. "They are really trying to work smarter," he said.
Three years ago, only 200 teachers showed up at his association's conferences. This year, 850 educators attended. Membership has doubled from 365 two years ago to 750 members today.
But the laptops are causing some headaches.
(excerpt) In 2006 the Legislature extended the program another four years, and the state Education Department renewed a contract with Apple Computer to supply the laptops. The $41 million contract covers the costs of 38,000 new laptops, training and technical support, including the $2 million needed to extend the program to high school teachers.
Technology has invaded public school classrooms over the past decade. Teachers now keep track of attendance and grades electronically and depend on e-mail to communicate with parents.
The new computers make those tasks easier and also allow teachers to collaborate with each other in new ways, said Bette Manchester, who oversees the program for the state Department of Education.
Teachers are hungry to learn more about how to use technology in their classrooms, said Craig Dickinson, business manager for the Association of Computer Technology Educators of Maine. "They are really trying to work smarter," he said.
Three years ago, only 200 teachers showed up at his association's conferences. This year, 850 educators attended. Membership has doubled from 365 two years ago to 750 members today.
But the laptops are causing some headaches.
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home