A Laptop for Every Learner

How a Virginia school district is keeping learning alive at school and at home by giving every student a laptop computer

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Our primary mission in Virginia's Henrico County school district has been to enhance how students learn in the classroom and at home. Each of our 63 schools has at least one computer lab as well as a computer for student use in every classroom. In addition, the teachers in our district use computers to track student attendance and grades, and work to incorporate technology into their instruction.

We came to realize, however, that in order to raise the bar for teaching and learning and help our students compete in a technology-driven society, we needed to go the extra mile. We decided that the best solution would be to secure a computer for each student. The answer: laptops.

Providing teachers and students with state-of-the-art tools such as laptops, we thought, would help spark new types of learning, exploration, and a change in the relationships between students and teachers. Moreover, the students could take their laptops home, learn with them, and make them their own. About one third of the more than 40,000 students in our district do not have computers at home and, in many cases, do not have access to libraries or other venues that have computers with Internet connections. Distributing laptops would clearly open doors for many.

In spring 2001, we gave each high school teacher an Apple iBook laptop so that he or she could become familiar with this new teaching tool. When school began, a total of 12,000 iBook laptops were deployed to our high school students. The only financial requirement from each student was a $50 insurance fee to cover theft, loss, or damage. For some students, even this small sum was a stretch; but they found a way. One student asked his teacher to guard a jar filled with $50 worth of coins and one-dollar bills, until the laptops were delivered in August — so that he could get his right away.

REAPING THE BENEFITS

We are just a few months into this initiative and already we have seen the benefits. Despite our share of setbacks in the beginning — ranging from bandwidth congestion to last-minute repairs — the project has moved forward successfully. Students have responded with incredible enthusiasm, excitement, and creativity. Moreover, we expect to see positive results in student achievement down the road.

We are also changing the way that teachers teach through professional development sessions led by a full-time trainer at each high school. The sessions show teachers how to better integrate technology into their lessons.

Another benefit: We've received tremendous assistance from companies offering digital content that is dynamic and interactive — far superior to static print text. We hope to move primarily to a digital content base by next fall.

MOVING FORWARD

This journey has just begun. Ultimately, we believe the investment in our children will pay off for years to come. The energy that it has created in terms of how we learn, when we learn, how we teach, and how we connect with each other fuels our classrooms and schools and creates an exciting atmosphere.

Next fall we look forward to procuring 11,000 additional iBooks for our middle schools with the vision of eventually including our elementary students.We plan to continue to develop new ways to integrate technology into the district's curriculum and further inspire student learning. We hope that other school systems will take the brave step of building bridges for their children and communities. Please come and visit us if you would like to learn more.

Mark Edwards is the superintendent of Henrico County Public Schools in Virginia and was named 2001 Superintendent of the Year by the Virginia Association of School Superintendents.

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