Thanks
to John Edgecomb of Trinity School for the notes
Laptop
Program - Open Forum
-shouldn't
be called laptop 'program' - what should we then call our programs?
-advantages:
technology is there when you need it whenever, wherever, primary resource
documents that are available (particularly for history, geography);
can be a change agent -disadvantages: student behaviour -
-research
- goes both ways - students are definitely more engaged - the learning
environment is changed - students work more independently
-when
do you adopt it? Depends on the needs of the school....
-skills
that they develop with laptops can be applied to the workplace - some
of these skills cannot be measured
-professors
of education have become involved from UBC and SFU - we need to get
them involved with benefits of technology at the teacher education
level
-change
behaviour first, then attitude
-professional
development - small group of IT Directors out west have been invited
to the Faculties of Education out west; students are even being involved
with promoting use of technology
-now
is a great time to get into the wireless laptop environment
-why
have a textbook?
-need
to get past the management issues - VLAN's can help for students who
bring in their own laptops
-accidental
breakage policy - most schools have them
-we need
to promote the learning first and then show means of how this learning
can be enhanced
-What
about asking the kids? Get their feedback! The students can be powerful
communication agents for the laptop program and the effective use
of technology
-How
do you involve parents in the process? Keeping kids safe online is
very important
-You
will always have those against technology - how do you deal with those
people? Give them support - make sure that they are always striving
to help meet the mission statement of the school