Packing a lunch and last night’s homework is how most parents send their students off to school. But next school year, fifth-graders in Riverside Public School District 96 also will need to remember to grab their laptops.
Hauser staff member Elizabeth Whaley is heading up the one-to-one laptop initiative for the 2009-10 school year. Starting in fifth grade, each student will receive a MacBook, which will be theirs until they graduate from eighth grade.
“I think we need to change the way we are educating kids in some ways and improve upon what we are doing,” said Whaley.
Fourth-grade students Derek Johnson and Sophia Bolton are excited for next year when they will receive their own laptop.
“I have been begging my parents for a laptop, and I was so excited I don’t have to ask anymore,” Sophia said.
Derek said things are more organized on the computer, which will make doing his work easier. Sophia agreed and said her homework will be neater when completed solely on the computer instead of in her handwriting.
The school will be ordering between 160 to 170 computers, and the exact cost is being worked out with Apple. Choosing the MacBook was an easy choice for District 96 since they have historically been a Mac district.
Research has shown laptop programs improve writing skills and technology skills, which are very useful in today’s work place, Whaley said.
“I think you will see more changes, see additional benefits,” Whaley said. “This is an opportunity for kids to have great access to current information.”
A majority of work will be done on the laptops, but students will have opportunities to go into the library and find print sources, Whaley said.
Sophia and Derek said they were sure the laptops would help enhance the students’ learning experience and get them interested in different subjects.
“Like if we need help spelling things or we don’t know the definition of a word it will be nice to have access to the computer and (look up) what the word means,” Sophia said.
Derek said he was nervous about the validity of some sources on the Internet while doing research and hoped to learn how to tell the difference.
Distractions are a small concern, Whaley said.
“There may be students who get sidetracked and teachers are very good at watching the screens and making sure,” Whaley said. “A rule will be ‘only go where your teacher tells you to be.’”
In the beginning, students will adjust to having the laptops and will not be allowed to bring them home until security and confidence is in place.
“It will take time to make sure we have security in place to protect their kids and knowledge for parents and students on how to handle the laptop at home,” Whaley said.
Fourth-graders are looking at the laptops as a useful tool to enhance their education and a big responsibility they cannot wait to get started using, Sophia said.
“I think it is a step forward to growing up,” she said. “In college, you need to get a computer or laptop. We are being prepared for our future to come.”
