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NY Times Article Re: Laptops in the Classroom

An article about laptops in the schools making no positive impact on students' performance was distributed to members of the Digital Divide Committee and I am wondering what people think about it. And I will start the discussion off by saying that I think that the issues we on the committee are trying to address may be very distinct and very separate from the issue of technology in the classroom. As I mentioned at the April meeting, I feel strongly that laptops don't belong on every desk in the classroom, but some call me a Luddite (someone who is anti technology or afraid of technology). It just seems like too much of a distraction from true pedagogy. Just my two cents.

But what do others feel about the question of whether or not this is within the committee's purview?

(I will attach the article as soon as I figure out some technical difficulties - maybe I AM a Luddite!)

Submitted by susan on May 5, 2007 - 10:58am.
Mary Hart's picture
Submitted by Mary Hart on May 7, 2007 - 12:35pm.

Hi All
Thank you Susan for setting this blog up. I think it will be a good forum to build momentum on this issue, before and after meetings.
About the article on laptops in the classroom. I have been cool on the idea of providing laptops all along. No matter who we decide our focus is with the DD program a desktop is more functional and integrated into a households infrastructure. Much like the phone and TV. In my home the desktop is shared. My laptop remains in its case and is used mostly when I travel outside the home. School children that have laptops tend to keep them in their rooms or backpack. So from the aspect of inclusion all members of a household would have better access to the desktop. Lastly they are more enduring with much less maintenance required.

allysonjallen's picture
Submitted by allysonjallen on May 7, 2007 - 5:46pm.

Hi guys,

I'm really quite torn, portability is part of the ease of technology. But if our model is to support the family, I'm definitely leaning towards desktops because its very true that laptops are more easily used exclusively. Some of the programs we heard about offered both. Maybe that's something we should explore.