Florida public schools are about to get a lot more wired. By 2015, half of all learning materials will need to be digital. State policymakers are trying to figure out how to get an electronic tablet or a laptop into the hands of every schoolchild.
One organization is working to distribute inexpensive laptops to every child in the developing world. Last year, they made their first foray into US classrooms. The end goals are big. Here’s what One Laptop’s Founder, Nicholas Negroponte thinks these computers can,"eliminate poverty and create peace and work on the environment."
So far, the organization has distributed about 2.5 million laptops, most of them in Latin America. Which is why a few years ago, One Laptop set up an office in Miami. Melissa Henriquez oversees the project at Holmes Elementary School. She says policymakers need to understand getting buy-in from school administrators and teachers is essential.
"We had a new administrator this school year. Half of the staff is also new", Henriquez said. "So we had to start from scratch in terms of professional development starting the culture of the laptop program in the school again."
Gary Weidenhamer is director of educational technology for Palm Beach County. He’s also part of the group advising Florida on how to bring technology into the classroom. They’re looking at one-to-one computer projects, like One Laptop, for lessons learned.
"You just cant get enough professional development", Weidenhamer said. "But once the teachers, the students, the parents, the community buys in to that system of learning and educating, they have seen great success."
Research is mixed on whether one-to-one computers to kids help much with standardized test scores. There is evidence that on a really large scale, it can encourage all sorts of learning and critical thinking skills.
At Holmes Elementary School, second grade teacher Abe Coleman saw that development when he gave out his first assignment on the laptop. To Coleman, the benefits go beyond the usual school metrics.
"A lot of these kids don’t own much of anything because of the poverty level in our area. That laptop is ownership", said Coleman. "I will see kids really take care of their laptop."
Back at literacy night, Adam’s mother, Lyndra Forbes has seen the impact of the computer on her son
"Since he’s been using the computer in school and it helped him out a lot with his reading, his math. He’s actually on a third grade reading level right now", Forbes said. "As a mother to see that my child is learning through technology is...I’m lost for words basically."
Florida lawmakers hope that in a couple of years, many more parents will be at a loss for words.
