As you may have noticed in the front of our classroom sits a big metal box. Inside are 25 laptops, purchased for use in this classroom. Having such technology at our fingertips provides a wonderful opportunity to utilize the latest technology as we learn 21st Century literacy skills and concepts. However, it is more than simply putting laptops in a classroom. Some schools across the country who have experimented with laptops have reconsidered their decision. In Liverpool, N.Y., officials have decided to phase out the laptops in their school starting this year. Their decision made the front page of the New York Times in May. It also prompted many people in education to think harder about the best way to use laptops in the classroom. In response to Liverpool's decision, one educator criticized schools for giving up on technology so easily.I want you to think about the issue and help us craft a set of classroom guidelines for the use of our laptops. Click on the two links from the above paragraph and read the first page of both articles. Then, as a writing assignment, make suggestions about what we can do in F14 to get the best use out of the laptops. How should we use them in class? What should we be using them to learn? What guidelines do we need? What would you suggest the teacher do to make the most out of the laptops? Post your response in the comment section of the blog. Write your answer in a few paragraphs, using complete sentences and proper grammar. An honors-level answer will properly make reference to one of the articles. Sign your first name (no last names) and class period after your posting.
Having laptops in a class doesnt necessrily improve a students grade. Laptops are a good thing to have in class so that we dont have to go to the computer lab.There might not be enough computers in each computer lab, a solution to that was to get laptops so that students could do research from their classrooms. There are computer programs that allow you to choose the websites that you can only visit. If we have a problem with students downloadig pornography we should look to apply that program into the laptops. I think that we should only use Laptops for research and typing up reports. Not for taking notes. We can research alot more things with a computer than with books.
ReplyDeletei don't think that taking away the laptops helped the kids at all. they have a way to get around it anyways. just like our school, we have full access to the laptops but even with a lot of stuff blocked, we are able to get around it. especially with one of the kids in 10th grade who made a website that helps us go on certain sites that are usually blocked.
ReplyDeleteThere are many uses for laptops in school. I think that one of the most significant reasons why is that the use of the internet expands all oppertuinities to gather valid information. If a student does abuse the privlage of using a school-based by downloading pornography or displaying test answers to the rest of the student body there should be consequences. In my opinion i think that it is unfair that because of a select few students failing to be responsible in using the laptops that the whole district should have to be punished and be stripped of using the laptops. Downloading a pornography video on a laptop is unacceptable but however does not do any damage or cost money to the school or laptops.
ReplyDeleteLaptops, first of all, are a priviledge. If students are going to use them for purposes during classes that aren’t related to the classwork, then yes, they should be removed from the students. However, I think that only the students who aren’t using them for what their supposed to should lose them. Don’t punish the kids who are doing what they’re supposed to be doing. Second, just because the teachers can’t incorporate the technology, doesn’t mean you should get rid of it. Just revamp the teaching.
ReplyDeleteJames, period 5
i think the school in liverpool didnt do a enough job of setting up a fire wall. if a 10th grade student can bypass a fire wall its obvisouly done not up to standard. i also dont agree with Mark Lawson when he says that laptops are a distraction, there are many cases where a laptop is a great help, such as researching and writing. i also dont understand why they are making such a big deal about laptops if there is no noticable change in the students grades. also if students werent making any acadeic gains with laptops what is the point to go back to learning from a teacher. the whole reason in getting the laptops was to make a substitition for having teachers do their job. if schools go back to not using laptops they will be in the same situation they were in before.
ReplyDeleteI think that the use of laptops in our English class is a great improvement over last year. We don’t need to go to computer labs anymore, and we don’t have to worry abut there not being enough computers for everyone. We can use the laptops for better and more accurate research for English class. We can use them to write papers or read articles without having to waste paper. Using laptops will also help us get ready for college, when you use them all the time. According to the article about Liveroppl High School, the students were using the laptops to download pornography and roam the internet. Sure, some students might do that here, but do we really want to take away this opportunity from kids who actually want to learn?
ReplyDeleteHaving laptops in the classroom would definitely be a huge advantage for students as now we would be able to use the computer to find research and other important things quickly. However, I do not think that classrooms should rely on the computer as their main teaching guide. In life, there will not always be a computer to type on, for example, on the SAT. When students are so focus on computers, they will eventually lose interest on the material taught and stray off into other programs and websites. Mark Lawson said in the article,"Seeing No Progress, Some Schools Drop Laptops", "...when there’s a one-to-one relationship between the student and the laptop, the box gets in the way. It’s a distraction to the educational process.” This shows how it is unnecessary to use the laptop for everything in the classroom. I think that the teacher should be very concern about which websites the students are on and should definitely set rules. We should only be using the computer for some things, not all.
ReplyDeleteI agree with these two articles. I have read on the subject before and have seen both ends of the argument so Im not ill informed on the positives. My reasoning is that with the budget thats being invested into these computers could go to much better purposes. How bout new textbooks: mine are falling apart. Or maybe newer gym lockers. There are countless other ways to spend money than to invest in laptops. Also the blocks; blocked web pages are making it very difficult to find information. I can hardly find a picture and a lot of informative sites are blocked for "cheating information" Lastly its just too easy for kids to conceal their fun programs from suspecting teachers.
ReplyDeleteDon't get me wrong, I don't think we should ban computers all together; I still support having computer rooms in which the class goes for a period of time. It's just that having laptops for every classroom is too straining on the budget. Plus, desktops are cheaper so by having computer labs were saving money. If we have more budget our school will become a nicer place, and maybe it'll even to afford paper for more than six months!
I think having the laptops in class saves a lot of time over going to the computer labs. In the computer labs, all computers are very slow and some don't even work. The laptops give us the freedom to research and type papers in class without having to leave most of an assignment for homework.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the second link that criticized the NY Times article. "...it's not about delivering the same old curriculum with new a technology." If the reason why laptops are being taken out of schools like the one in Liverpool, then lesson plans should be made to give using the laptops importance and appeal to learning.
Erin - Per. 5
I think having laptops in class is much easier then using computers. They are small and you can keep them in your classrooms. This is a good thing because with computers you have to bring your students to the computer lap and this just saves a lot of time. Laptops are useful in class because we can use them for research or we can also type our papers out which is good because some people don’t have very good hand writing and it’s much faster to type. Having the laptops in class is also a good thing because when you’re typing out your paper you can use spell check and make sure everything is write, unlike before when you had to have a friend check it over and see if there were mistakes.
ReplyDeleteSure, like the article said kids do use computers for bad stuff like downloading pornography and searching the internet but some kids don’t do that. I don’t think it would be fair to take away the opportunity to use the laptops. Personally I think they should just ban the kids that are doing that to let the kids that don’t take on this great opportunity.
Kristin - per. 7
I think that the best way to use the laptops in class is for researching topics or typing up papers. Using the Internet is a much faster and more efficient way than researching in an old, out-dated book. Typing up papers on the laptops is a great idea because the papers are neat and readable, and they are error-free because of spell check. Teachers will have a much easier time reading and grading papers. I think that it would be easier to take class notes on paper because then we will always have them with us whenever we need to refer to them. We aren’t always at a computer so we might not be able to log on and get what we need.
ReplyDeleteTeachers should be strict with the laptops because they are expensive. I think that the best way to know who may have caused damage to a laptop is to assign each student a laptop, and at the end of class the teacher should go around and make sure that all the laptops are still in good shape.
Heather- Period 7
According to both articles and from my own personal experiences and observations, it is apparent that laptops are of very little use to the majority of the school body for several reasons. Although we, as students and members of the public school community, are maturing and studying in a constantly modernizing society, we are simultaneously, however it may be subconscious, getting so wound up in the technology therefore affecting our ability to think. Tom McCarthy, being a faculty member at a public school with access to laptops, couldn't have said it better when he stated that "The art of thinking is being lost", referring to his eleventh grade students. Instead, students as a whole are relying soley on the use of computers, while faculty, who should be trying their best to protect students from such lazy behavior, are simply making this process more accessible at their fingertips. Not only are they giving students a ticket out of thinking for themselves, but they are also handing them access to pornography and online video games, even if it is unintentional.
ReplyDeleteAnother issue with laptops in schools is that the money to pay for these outrageously expensive machines (as well as the constant repairing) comes from the parents, who have little say in the board's decision. This issue can be even more of a problem if the laptops are being used for inappropriate, non-school related purposes as mentioned previously. One angry father, Richard Ferrante, says "I feel like I was ripped off", in reference to his son, Peter, who used his laptop in order to master video games. He goes onto say, “every time I write my check for school taxes, I get mad all over again”. This is quite understandable, and I feel as though the parents should be able to decide how to spend their money and whether or not they want their children to have such freedom with the internet. I also feel as though it would be in the school's best interest to spend the tax money more efficiently, perhaps in buying things like calculators, pens, and pencils, especially in poverished cities.
So far, the only "advantage" to having laptops in schools, since it was proven that this privilage had no effect whatsoever on students' grades, is that kids are able to type faster, as mentioned by Eddie McCarthy, a senior in Liverpool.
If this is the case, I feel strongly that students should wait for college to buy such equipment.
-Angel; period 5
The laptops that are giving to us during our 10th grade english classes, give use many advantages during this class. Since these laptops are giving to us just to be used and not your own personal computer I think that the students should respect the rules that are giving by the school. We should not be bypassing the blocks to the internet. But on the other hand if we were to all have personal computers instead of the school loaning them to us, we would be able to proceed on doing what we would do on our regular computers we would be able to Download music on them, and browse the internet as much as we wanted. But since they are loaned to us we should follow the rules that were given.
ReplyDeleteWe should be using these laptops that were given to use to improve our typing skills and to learn more about literature. by browsing the internet. The guidelines that we should be following with these computers is that we should not be on any other program that the teacher does not want us to be on. We should also not be trying to bypass the internet blocking and the secruity features. I suggest that the teacher who has provided these laptops to give us activities that benfit us with skills for typing and reading and other materials and skills that would benifit us in our !0th grade english class.
I think it important for the teachers to be strict about theser laptops that are given to us because, people should not be miss using them. The school system trust us with these highly priced peices of equipment and students should not be miss treating them and using them for their personal being.
Greg Morgan
Period 7
Laptops in a classroom are a good idea. They are very convenient for both students and teachers. They should be used, but under close adult supervision.
ReplyDeleteLaptops can save a lot of trouble. Often times when classes have projects, they have to go to the computer lab, and there is often not enough computers available. The laptops are right in the classroom and very accessible. They are good for doing research projects and typing papers. But because of the issue of kids abusing the laptops, there should be security programs on there. Teachers should also monitor the kids usage carefully. Laptops are a plus, and they should stay in the classrooms for projects.
Melissa- period 7
I want to first address how lucky we are to have the opportunity to use such new and advanced technology. We are so fortunate that our school is able to afford brand new laptops for all of us. Most students will never have the same learning benefits we now have due to these laptops. In class I think we should use them when typing reports as apposed to hand writing them because it will save a lot of time. I think guidelines that should be addresses are to respect the laptops. They should be handles with care. I believe the teachers should allow student to come after school and use the laptops. For some it will be helpful to be in a classroom setting and have a teacher present. The updated programs that are currently on each laptop are great to have and should be available at all times.
ReplyDeleteLindsey period 8
No matter where you turn you always hear that technology is the way of the future, so it is not surprising to me that we are beginning to turn to it in our class. First off, I believe for our laptops to make the biggest impact they possibly can we must have lessons that can only be taught through use of the laptops, otherwise, as the teacher in the second article said, we are just making the old way of teaching more expensive. Another addition that the laptops can bring to the classroom is pre-typed notes. Many times when teachers give notes and they have a smart board available they put the notes in a file on the smart board, making it easy to just email it to the students. This will make it so even the poorer notetakers can have quality notes to look back on and study with. Lastly a great way to utilize the laptops in the classroom would be to use classroom run blogs, forums, etc. to stimulate conversation that perhaps even the shyer students can get involved in.
ReplyDeleteI’d like to end my comment by saying that using laptops in the classroom can have a positive effect as long as they are used and only in the classroom. Many people would disagree and use the article from the New York Times as proof but I would like to point out how important the bolded sections of my statement are. Technology can only be utilized when it is actually used so it does not just become a shiny piece of scenery performing no needed task in our classroom. Secondly, technology can only be properly used under supervision. The reason laptops failed so badly in Liverpool High is because the students where given too much freedom with the laptops, I feel the stricter measures taken here at BHS will help laptops become a staple in the classroom environment.
~Dan Period 1
It’s difficult to take a side because both of these articles were very persuasive and made good points. However I believe that laptops should be purchased out of the student/family’s own money and not required in school. The school should have them available for certain classes (as is in English 10) but they should not be pushed or required to “buy” the laptops for such high prices each month. The parents should not have to pay for their children to play games on their computer in class or do things they wouldn’t approve of. It states in the first article: “Peter, used his laptop to become a master at the Super Mario Brothers video game.” If the students felt such a need to have a laptop and felt that it would better their learning environment, they should either pay for the laptop themselves or speak with their parents and create rules.
ReplyDeleteThe risk factors are very high with having everyone have a laptop in school. Stealing would be less likely if everyone was issued one, but it is still very possible. Also, teenagers tend to be reckless and are likely to break or drop the computers and not care for them as well as they should. While it would be nicer to have online textbooks and such, it is impossible for the teacher to supervise everyone and make sure they are doing what they are supposed to. As it says in the article about getting rid of the computers, “school officials here and in several other places said laptops had been abused by students,” It has happened and will continue to happen. While teenagers should not have to be watched over at all times they should come to a class to learn, be on task and do what they are supposed to.
In conclusion, I feel that computers should be an optional luxury but they should not in any way be required. They should be available through the school but only if the student and their family decide on a set of rules and figure out the financial part together. There are many pros and cons to having computers in schools but there are more efficient ways to integrate technology into today’s curriculum.
-Rachel
English 10
I am in awe how students could take the privilege of having laptops available in their classrooms for granted.
ReplyDeleteLaptops are a huge privilege to have available in the classroom. They cannot only make you better at computers, but also make you a better student. “Many school administrators and teachers say laptops in the classroom have motivated even reluctant students to learn, resulting in higher attendance and lower detention and dropout rates." That quote from the article really shows me that laptops can make an average or below average student go above and beyond their ability to learn. Because of that I truly think only the students that abuse their rights should be the ones that get their computer taken away, not the ones that have done nothing wrong.
Julie Period 1
I think that students should have laptops to use during class time. However, I don't believe that they should be taken out of the class and used during the whole day. The whole idea for laptops in class is to help you research or type of whatever, not to be taken and used for personal lives. They shouldn't be used for anything outside of the classroom.
ReplyDeleteThe only rule that should be enforced the most is that the laptops should not be used outside the classroom. If they are not taken out, teenagers have no time to use them for downloading music and visiting uneducational websites. In my opinion, we need some serious guildines and I aint fooling around. Teenagers need to be put into line and laptops are just the tings to set them off.
Riley
Period 7
I think that laptops should not be leased to students because you are just causing your own problems with technical and the inappropriate use of them. If most classes do receive laptops they should just use them in class and use them for the designated time period. By handing new laptops to teens to use in school is just saying heres free access to facebook, myspace, games, etc when they are truly meant for school work. Also, if teachers don't know how to use them, then the school system should take time out to teach them. Its a really simple thing here. The way BHS handles the laptops is great in my opinion. This way teachers can keep an eye on what students are doing and if your not doing what you're supposed to be doing then they should lose their privileges. Teachers can also incorporate their laptop access into their lesson plans, which is probably helpful.
ReplyDeletehaving laptops in class i think is a big help and i dont think that it is a distraction. The school in liverpool obviously wasnt setting up their fire walls well enough that a 10th grade student could get by it. I think that the laptops help kids reasearch things with out going to the computer lab and it helps kids that can type faster than they can right. I also think that if a student misuses his or her laptop then they should not be able to use it but dont not let the rest of the class use them.
ReplyDeleteI think that having laptops in classes is a good idea. But the schools don't have to let the students use them, it's a privlage. So if the students are taking advantage and using the laptops for things they aren't supposed to, then they should be taken away. If the students aren't mature enough to just follow the rules and use the laptops the right way, they don't deserve to use them at all. On the other hand, if the schools did a better job of blocking things they don't want the students using, it probably wouldn't be that big of a problem.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading both articles, I feel that laptops are very vital and necessary in the public school systems. We are living in a new technology age where almost every task is performed with a computer. If someone were in need to define a word, their best bet would be to use dictionary.com rather than spend the time flipping the pages of an actual dictionary. Yes, this new technology in a sense may be making “the art of thinking” become lost, as Tom McCarthy mentioned in the first article, but think of all the other benefits this is creating. We are able to access an endless supply of knowledge at our fingertips.
ReplyDeleteSchool is where you go to learn and to prepare yourself for the future. Our future holds us responsible for gaining complete knowledge of how to use our new technology to its greatest potential. Allowing each an every student to have access to his or her own laptop is essential.
I agree that there may be flaws in how the laptop situation is being used. In the first article it mentioned how students were misusing their privileges of their laptops by logging on to inappropriate sites. By thinking in the way of the second article, there is no need to just give up on our technology because it isn’t being used properly. In addition to the second article’s “book” theory, this can be related to students vandalizing textbooks. By vandalizing a textbook, students are in a sense misusing their “new technology.” With every new item schools purchase, something is bound to happen to it.
All in all, I feel laptops are important for schools to allow students to have access too. There must be certain rules and codes of conduct that must be put into place, however. Stricter Internet blocks should be created to make sure students aren’t logging onto inappropriate websites. Also, teachers should be well educated into learning proper teaching techniques. Laptops should possibly be used to type out notes, seeing that an average person can type must faster than writing. Laptops are necessary.
-Alexa, Period 7
I think we still should use laptops in class for projects. A reason for using them is to get to know new programs to help us in the future and for classes. The guidelines I would recommend to use would be is what we are currently doing now, which is to use them for assignments only and to stay on task. (there really isn't much we can do to keep students from getting off task) I would also have to say that whenever a teacher has a chance to teach using computer i would do so.
ReplyDeleteYes, it's sad what the students in the articles were doing with the computers, but there are always going to be loop holes in the system. The only thing that we can do is watch the students and keep on increasing security measures. One of the big problems I find is that the wireless Internet in schools isn't secured. With schools that let students use laptops class periods only, securing the wireless Internet will help prevent others with their own laptops from doing things that they aren't supposed to be doing. There is no way to totally get rid of technology in schools, it's the way of the future now.
Brendan Period 7
I think the Laptops are great to have in a classroom. Information included in that news article doesn’t really apply to us much since some students actually had to supply the laptops for themselves. I know from being in the Branford School system all my life that they block all inappropriate sites and if someone finds a way passed it they are notified of it anyways. I don’t think Laptops actually help education but I believe that having them in class is much more beneficial then having to walk to the computer labs where the computers are very slow. I think we should do half of the things on the laptops and half off so that when it comes to CAPT and SAT that we are prepared for the writing portion. I think that if kids are going to use these laptops for other purposes than school work then they should be taken away. I think that kids will realize how great it is to actually have these laptops and they will treat them with respect and care.
ReplyDeletei think is is a good thng hat the school in liverpool took away the laptops because now the students cant cheat andbypass the fire wall but i do think the school could have stopted the studens by puting a better fire wall on. i also think if the teachers just handed the students there laptops when they realy need them would help because that way they would be watched by a teacher
ReplyDeleteLaptops are a great opportunity for students in school. These movable computers allow students to work in classrooms where there may be more resources, than just a computer lab. It may also be better teaching spaces for the teacher’s needs and the students may feel more comfortable there. Also, having more computers may mean a better education for everyone. Students will now be able to access the internet anytime they want, instead of having to wait just until they reach a computer lab or at home. This could take the time of having to look words up in the dictionary or in encyclopedias. Laptops could also help us in writing. Typing is much faster than hand-writing so students will get more done in a shorter period of time.
ReplyDeleteIf students are using their laptops for not school-related topics, then there should be consequences. Like it said in the New York Times, where students were downloading pornography and cheating on tests, then laptops should be monitored more closely and confiscated from those who are not using them for legitimate reasons. Laptops should only be used for projects, books, and learning. They should not be used to check the score of the Yankee game, or your Facebook.
Ally, Period 7
Many schools in America are purchasing laptops for certain classes because they believe they will improve student's learning. I don't really agree with this because laptops and the internet in general are just making students lazy. For example, if most students don't know what a word means, they won't look it up in the dictionary. Instead they will just type in the word on the internet. I do agree with using laptops for research because most of the time it is harder to find information in of books from the library, where as looking on different websites is much easier. I can see why the Liverpool school got rid of their laptops. It states in the article that, "used their school-issued laptops to exchange answers on tests, download pornography and hack into local businesses," this shows that the students abused their privledges. I think that the teachers and administrators at the Liverpool School did the right thing by taking away the laptops. Those students had crossed the line, pornography is unacceptable esspecially for a school. It says in the article that "after seven years of using these laptops there was no evidence of the grades improving," this proves that there was no need for the laptops. I bet that if there was any chance of the grades improving, it was probably because they gave eachother test answers through the laptops.
ReplyDeleteIt's not that I don't think that these laptops won't work for BHS, I just can see why they weren't working for the Liverpool School. I definitely think that there are ways for the laptops to work at BHS. There should be rules set like if you break it intentionally or by "horsing" around then you have to pay for the repairs. Also if anyone catches you looking at any inappropriate websites or trying to get through the security barrier then you will loose your computer priviledges and get some other punishment.
I think that we should use the laptops to research different topics and to work on projects in class. I believe that we should have some class time to work on any assignments that involve the computer, so we have the chance to get it finished because most students are involved in extracurricular activities that are time consuming. Also we should use the laptops research articles that are involved with the topics that we would be working on in the class at the time. I really hope that the laptops help my fellow students and I learn more and achieve better grades.
Bridget Period 5
I think having laptops have advantages and disadvantages. One of the advantages is classroom activities and projects can get done faster and in a convenient way. Laptops are small and it’s much easier than having to walk to the computer lab where there not be anymore computers and many of the kid’s attention wouldn’t be that focused on what they had to do anymore.
ReplyDeleteOne of the disadvantages is that even though the teachers may block content and websites they don’t want the students to go on; there are still things on the laptop that can distract you. Also, if the students aren’t using them in the right way I think it is the right decision to take them away.
-Abby
Per. 7
It seems like the school in Liverpool New York has a different idea of using laptops in the school than we do here at BHS. It says at one point in the article that “…one student without a computer, Taylor Baxter, 16, stared at a classmate’s screen because she had forgotten to bring her own laptop that day.” This kind of thing would not be a problem for us at BHS because though we are assigned our own laptops, the ones that we are assigned are required to stay in the classroom. I think it’s a smart idea that the laptops stay in the classroom. There’s really no reason for us to have laptops with us at all times and carry them back and fourth to home and to class. I don’t think that the laptops should replace notebooks, and I still think that notes should be taken on regular notebook paper. With laptops, it is much easier to lose work that you worked hours on or notes you spent all class period copying down because the computer shut down at any moment.
ReplyDeleteI don’t think it’s a bad thing to use the laptops as a resource instead of books and newspapers. Teacher Tom McCarthy said that “The art of thinking is being lost ... Because people can type in a word and find a source and think that’s the be all end all.” I don’t think this is necessarily a bad thing when using the internet for a research paper or to find the answer to a question. Typing in a key word on the internet would be the same as looking in the glossary of a textbook for a certain word and going to that page where the word is on. You still have to look at the other things around the word to see if it’s what you’re looking for, but with a computer, it just saves you time
I think the laptop use in the classroom should be restricted to certain things. I don’t think we should be allowed to write essays in class that are timed and that we had previous information about, because it would be far too easy for someone to just open a folder with the completed essay that they were able to take their time on and organize, while still looking like they were writing the essay in class. I also don’t think if we are taking a test that we don’t particularly know the subject matter of, the internet should be disabled because it would be very easy to open up the email and send answers back and fourth to classmates. I don’t think that it would necessarily be a horrible thing if the school got rid of the laptops because if we all went to school without them for 10 years, another 3 wont kill us, and there’s always the computer labs for research and typing papers. In the editorial article, it says that “Many school administrators and teachers say laptops in the classroom have motivated even reluctant students to learn, resulting in higher attendance and lower detention and dropout rates.” I don’t think this is true at all, because if I didn’t feel like coming to class one day, it wouldn’t make a difference to me if we were using laptops or if we were using a pencil and paper. I think that when it comes to the laptops in classrooms, they are a great thing to use for researching articles and facts for a paper or project or for typing an essay like we would in any computer lab, but when it comes to note taking and tests, the old fashion pencil and paper is the way to go.
lauren, p.1
I think that having laptops in class has both good and bad points. Some good things about having laptops are that things that would usually take extra time in class and at home can now be more easily done in the classroom. Without laptops, the class would have to go to the computer labs, where half of the dilapidated computers don’t even work, and where large classes aren’t well enough equipped to allow everyone computer use. The laptops will allow typing essays to be easier and able to be done in less time. Also, research can be more easily done on the internet, rather than having to check the library for old books that half the times aren’t even there for information. Using email to send out sets of instructions or grading rubrics would conserve paper and thus save the rainforests, which is another good thing about personal laptops.
ReplyDeleteA major drawback that would be caused by these laptops would be the strain on the budget. If the school had to cut art and music electives in order to buy the laptops, I would say forget the laptops and give me my art. Also, the cost of repairing all the damaged laptops would be enormous. However, as long as the laptops are only used during class, there is a smaller chance of any vandalism or any damage being done to the computer. Kids are less tempted to do bad things when around teachers, so that would prevent most vandalism. Also, when the laptops are only being used at the desk of each pupil, then being brought back to the laptop cart, there is less chance of kids breaking the laptops when they are bringing them back and forth to home, stuffing them in their backpacks, carelessly throwing them on desks, and otherwise treating the laptops with disrespect.
I don’t think that having laptops available for use by any student at all times is a good idea though. In Liverpool, students could lease the laptops and take them anywhere to use anytime. As long as we keep the use of laptops exclusively to when they are actually going to be used for something that goes along with the curriculum, they shouldn’t be allowed to be used. Also with Liverpool, the students had their laptops everyday. That means that kids would play on the internet during boring class lectures and mundane grammar lessons. I assume the main cause of abuse of the laptops would be people fooling around on them during classes, when they should be paying attention to the teacher. If the laptops were only allowed to be used when typing papers or doing internet research, then students would be less tempted to use the computer for tomfoolery and would want to get to work to finish their assignment (lest they be cursed with dreaded homework!). And if a handful of ruffians would want to spend their class time trying to crack through the school’s firewall and into local businesses, then let those kids have to do their work at home, or, even worse, not do the work at all. After all, if they fail because they didn’t do their work, and ample time was given for them to do it in class, then let them fail. It would be impossible to prevent all misuse of the laptops but it would be at the rule breaker’s own expense to use the computers incorrectly. If they are going to use something that the school spent so much of its oh-so-valuable budget money on for frivolous purposes, then so be it.
having labtops in english class is great. now we don't have to go to the computer labs were there aren't enough computers for the class. students can also gather information from the internet for projects. we should only use them for class work and not for looking for inapropriate websites or show test answers to other students. students who do that should be punished. i think that having labtops in class will help all students as long as they use them properly and they don't let it distract them from thier school work.
ReplyDeleteDoug, period 5
I think having Laptops in certain schools are not a good idea, but you shouldn’t punish the whole school for something that a few people who are not appreciative. So I read both of the articles and I highly agree that they shouldn’t have the laptops because it was there decision and teachers are not going to tolerate laptops being mistreated and used for other reasons that are not allowed to be viewed in school. It’s there fault that the laptops got taken away because if they just took advantage to invest there laptops wisely then they wouldn’t be in this predicament. This is so unacceptable for every school policy. “Used their school-issued laptops to exchange answers on tests, download pornography and hack into local businesses”. On the other hand at my school we are very lucky and privilege to have new laptops in our English class. We treat them like they are our own and we are taking advantage of our education and using it wisely like you are suppose to. In conclusion I think there actions about the laptops where truly objectionable. There punishment wasn’t harsh at all because they knew what they were doing and they didn’t think twice about there other peers who take there education seriously and not going to mistreat or do things that they know are wrong to the laptops at your school.
ReplyDeleteI think it is a good idea to have laptops in the classroom if they are used correctly. Having laptops is a better way to use internet rather than going to the computer lab, where the computers are slow and sometimes not enough, this way it's right n the class room. Having these laptops is a great way for doing research right in class. Also it is very convenient for typing essays instead of writing a ruff draft you could just type it.
ReplyDeleteUsing these laptops is a very big privilege. Not all classes in BHS have this privilege. We shouldn't abuse this privilege, because it could be very easily taken away. I think since using these laptops is such a privilege it should only be used for research on that subject not for your own personal things, for example the students at Liverpool looking up pornography, i think that is unacceptable to use are school laptops for that. If a student at BHS did that they should have their laptop privilege away.
Abby K - Per. 7
I think that schools can do without laptops, but it can also help. It is great that they are portable because there is no more room to put a computer lab in many schools, so laptops can save space. It can also save the teachers trouble because they wouldn’t have to schedule a day to get into the computer lab and then have to change their lesson plan because they couldn’t get in.
ReplyDeleteThe downside to have laptops in school is that, for one thing, they can be dropped so easily when students care careless, or just by accident. Some people say that it will improve students learning, I have to disagree, if anything it makes it worse because students feel distracted. I know most kids don’t get laptops until they are going into college, so being able to use one in high school is exciting and they want to treat it like it is their own computer and do whatever they want while using it for class assignments. They will abuse their freedom of using the laptop without even thinking twice about it, which is exactly what happened in Liverpool, NY. In the article it says that one student even found away around the blocks to certain programs. Many students would spend time doing that, in any school, not just ours.
I’m not saying laptops are a bad idea, for the students that won’t abuse the privilege. There should be consequences for those who break the rules. Laptops can be great, it all depends on the student that is using and how disciplined they are.
Molly Period 7
The debate on laptops is a big deal today. Personally I think that they are needed in classrooms and they are a big help if used write. Many people think they are a bad thing for kids to have in school. Mark Lawson said “After seven years, there was literally no evidence it had any impact on students’ achievement- none.” Now honestly just by giving a student a laptop they do not automatically become a genius. It is just a nice thing to have when needed. They help many teachers’ out that use assignments on the internet. Other people were concerned that the kids got to atte4cted to them. Mark Lawson said “The teachers where telling us when there’s a one to one relationship between the students and the laptop. The box gets in the way.” I think that is a little out of hand. I mean kids are in school way to long, the laptops give them something that they enjoy doing.
ReplyDeleteTo keep them in school I think the teachers should have rules. To use them in class it should not be whenever. They should only take them out when the need them to cause less distraction. I think that we should use them to learn thins that we do not have in school. For example something likes looking up articles and news stories. We only need the basic quid lines because it would be easier to follow. Give the kids rules so they do not do something they are not aloud to which can cause problem. The teachers should only let the kids use them when needed. If they are given to them all the time it will be easier for them to take advantage and make it become a problem.
Jessica- per 7
Providing laptops for students will be a great aspect to use throughout the year. BHS students should know not to do inappropriate things, cause they know they will get cause. So mind as well do not it in the first place. The students are educated well, but with the laptops, it will help the students a lot. Also, we won't have to worry about not having computer labs available. Students can get their work done right no the laptop, and doing quick research.
ReplyDeleteThe laptops may not improve the students grades, but really thats not what laptops are suppose to do. They may help you with a little technology,but not economically. I think students should be aware that these laptops aren't for us to abuse them, but make our life a little easier. Also, these laptops will be used only in one class, unlike the Liverpool School in Ny where the students were allowed to carry them around. So, for the amount of time we have to use the computers, we should understand that if we mess around like the Liverpool School students, the same situation may happen to us. The laptops don't come cheap. But I'm sure that students at BHS won't have a problem.
I think having laptops in class is an advantage. You're using better sources; because we have easier access to what we need. We can also improve our learing & typing skills.Honstly I think using laptops in class would make us concentrate better. We would listen & follow directions better. It would make us take on track.Laptop's are most useful in class for good purposes; such as if someone were to do something bad to the computer, you would know who did it. You can also keep your eyes on a better watch on the students & watch what they do.
ReplyDeleteI know some kid's use the computers in wrong way's as well. They download dirty things & mess up the computer, but those students shouldn't benafit for the others. Everyone should be able to use a laptop. They should have respect for the laptop's because its not theres to destory. I think the kids that destroy the computer's shouldn't be aloud on; then only they get punished
Amanda Period-7
I think that students in our English class should be given the choice whether or not they would like to use a laptop. I personally believe that it would be a good idea for all students to use them because the world is starting to depend on technology more and more. I don't think that the major point of using the laptops should be just to see if overall academic performance will improve. Laptops or not, student still have to have some sort of interest in the subject to do well. I believe that the use of the laptops should be for providing more options on how to do your work so everyone can choose their individual preference. Although I do think that laptops are beneficial, there are some things that they should not replace. Classroom discussions should still continue. People saying there opinions out loud I think has more of an effect on everybody.
ReplyDeleteI also think that although laptops would be saving paper, it would egual out in the end. In the articles it stated how expensive it is to maintain laptops because of how often they break down. It's maybe just easier to risk wasting paper instead of spending hundreds of dollars on fixing the laptops. Overall I believe that laptops should be used from time to time just to keep options open. But they should not replace many of the things we already do in our English classes.
Anja, Period 5
We dont need laptops to imporve in our studies. We also dont need to use most of the things we have in school but we use them anyways because this is a growing economic world. Laptops help kids learn in a sense because they are new age and its also teaching them how to use them mostly. We dont have to use them but most school chose to because it is a new thing and they think kids will use them and be more into it rather then reading a book because its new and exciting. One thing we can do is have limited internet access and also put blocks on most of the sites that dont have the proper learing permits to be a learning site. Many of the serch engines are already blocked but this gives kids more motivation to figure out a way around it. We should get some new firewalls and be a little more leniant with the web so the students will develope responcibility on their own.
ReplyDeleteJim period 1
In my opinion, I think that having the laptops in the vicinity of the classroom are an excellent idea. In class, we would be able to get all of our work done faster because for most people, typing is much faster then writing. Also our teacher does not have to sign up for a computer in the computer lab and possibly have the troubles of not being able to get a lab. The computers in the labs don't even work well at all, so its a good use to have new laptops in the classroom right at hand. Our class should be able to learn many new tasks as in learning how to use an online dictionary, or anything that has to do english related. The guidelines should be very self explanitory. Students should only use them for what they are needed for, not to dooze off into myspace or facebook. The school already has a great protection system so teachers dont have to worry about kids trying to download pornghraphy. I think the class will get alot out of using the laptops because its easier to get help from the teacher then in the computer lab and we could research anything we are learning instead of staring at the overhead all class period long. So I believe that the use of laptops should stay with us during english class because I know it will help me and I'm hoping everybody else ten times better then not having them do.
ReplyDeleteCourtney. Period 3
Although having these laptops could become an amazing opportunity, there are alot of students who abuse their privledges. I understand what the administrators, teachers etc. are saying from other schools about no change academically, but if the laptops are used for somthing simple such as typing a paper I do not see any harm in it. Also families in new york had to pay for their the childrens privleges, we are so fortunate that we don't haev to, the least we can do is treat these laptops carefully.
ReplyDeleteEven thought most of the students are trustworthy, there are the few that need to be watched so that the system doesnt freeze like what happened in Liverpool.Personally I do not think it is necessary to use the latops very often; I think once in a while for a quick lesson is enough to keep up on track with updates in technology. Simple rules should be made such as sites not to go on , and punishments should be made for those students who find way past the codes.
Furter more I do not think an amazing opportunity should be taken away from studnets who truly appreciate this opportunity and are not abusing the privliges.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteAlthough having these laptops could become an amazing opportunity, there are a lot of students who abuse their privledges. I understand what the administrators, teachers etc. are saying from other schools about no change academically, but if the laptops are used for somthing simple such as typing a paper I do not see any harm in it. Also families in New York had to pay for their children's privleges, we are so fortunate that we don't have to, the least we can do is treat these laptops carefully.
ReplyDeleteEven though most of the students are trustworthy, there are the few that need to be watched so that the system doesn't freeze like what happened in Liverpool. Personally I do not think it is necessary to use the latops very often; I think once in a while for a quick lesson is enough to keep up on track with updates in technology. Simple rules should be made such as sites not to go on , and punishments should be made for those students who find ways past the codes.
Further more, I do not think an amazing opportunity should be taken away from students who truly appreciate this opportunity and are not abusing the privlidges.
I hate when adults generalize. Yes, students at Liverpool High School abused the laptops. But the adults were obviously not efficient when controlling them, were they? Like the New York Times said "Imagine that... students choosing to "roam the internet" rather than talk to teachers--who da thunk?" They should not have assumed that their students would not take advantage of the freedom, but they also should not have shot the idea down, because how likely is it that ALL students abused that power? If teachers didn't incorporate technology in an innovative way, a way that might inpact the this tech-generation, why would they think they would see a difference? My point is, if used correctly; like we are (signing them in and under supervision) not only does it help the environment, but makes research and the learning procces that much easier.
ReplyDeleteI don't think schools should ban laptops all together. I think laptops are a great, new way to learn what we are being taught in class. Using laptops helps us type faster and gets us to be more comfortable using tools on the computer. I think it is great that our school lets us use laptops because many jobs now a days and in the future require computer knowledge and skills. So, I think it is excellent to learn now that way we are prepared. The future is driven by technology and new electtronic inventions determine how we learn and live our lives.
ReplyDeleteI think teachers should definitely be more strict with the laptops and computer in our school. They should be moer aware and alert tot what's going on. Also, the school should set up our laptops/computers so we can, no matter what, get on inappropriate websites. The laptops should only be used for homework or assignments. And if students go to the library on their free time to use the computers, staff or teachers should be near. IN conclusion, I think it is very silly for schools across America to get rid of all laptops. The teachers should learn how to teach with them and the school should be more strict and deny kids access to non-related school websites.
Kiana, period 5
Having laptops in school i think is a good thing. Now that being said, they should be used appropriately not for downloading pornography and they cost a lot to maintain. Besides according to the first article,"After seven years, there was literally no evidence it had any impact on student achievement — none,"
ReplyDeleteSo basically since they don't help, why are all these schools spending there money on them, instead of maybe paper that doesn't run out half way through the school year. Or new textbooks. All these key learning essentials are more important than a laptop 10 kids download porn on. And people wonder why the kids aren't getting any smarter.
Brian -period7
Personally, I think laptops are a good "trial and error" type of teaching- it could work great one year, and it could cause major distractions another year. There are not enough WORKING computers in our computer labs here at school, and I think it is a great opportunity for us to use the laptops in English class. Therefore, I think that integrating laptops with this year's English curriculum is a fantastic idea. In addition, our school has a fairly tight computer security system, so I do not think that students will be distracted "surfing the net" or "downloading porn" as mentioned in the New York Times article. Overall, I think that modern technology has great potential in a learning environment.
ReplyDeleteCorey W.- Period 7
Having access to these laptops in our English class is a great asset to our learning. They can give us specific aid that cannot come from a book. They also provide to us a technological edge that allows the school to build upon its computer systems, and teaches more students about the wonders of computers. As we evolve into a generation based entirely around machines, computers become a closer part of our lives. By using laptops on a daily basis and in a friendly classroom environment, students are taught how to use the laptops to boost academic achievement. Not only will our laptops provide an endless source for research (the internet), but they will allow us to type essays and other assignment otherwise written on paper. These laptops will be an essential part in our class this year, particularly in the field of writing.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the author of the second article in that some school systems were wrong to withdraw similar programs to the ones exhibited at BHS. As stated in the article, although academic performance or standardized test grades have not improved, it may not entirely be the students' fault. Most of the programs used are new and unfamiliar to both the students and teachers. Not only do the students have learn how to utilize the computers for specific purposes, and use them justly, but teachers must learn how to use them as well. Teachers need to be trained in using the laptops for various lessons, and this will require new teaching methods.
Not only does success with these programs require cooperation from the students and proper teaching methods from the teachers, but a strong reinforcement system from the school itself. This includes proper security and reinforcement of the proper use of the laptops, and cracking down on students who do not follow these guidelines.
I believe that schools all across the country should stick with computers and give them another chance. As I mentioned before, the world around us is changing, and computers become a closer part of our lives every day. Sooner or later, computers will be be vital to our daily lives. The potential aid and advantages computers can give to students cannot be denied.
Carter Wells
Period 7
I don't think that laptops would be beneficial for the classrooms of Branford High school. Technical issues are one of the reasons I don't think laptops are good. Laptops are pretty hard to work with and it seems no matter what type of computer you have that it will have glitches. The teachers will spend more time going around and helping students with their technical difficulties. I know from my own experience in middle school that our class barely got anything done because the teacher had to fix someone's computer every few minutes. Laptops that don't function properly can get rather annoying. Computers also get viruses easily. I know that my family spent a lot of time and money trying to fix our three computers in our house and I can't even imagine how much money it would cost our school to constantly repair the laptops.
ReplyDeleteStudents also spend a lot of time fooling around on the computers. There are many things that can distract a student on the laptops. Students will spend more time playing with the computer than actually doing their work and paying attention to the lesson being taught. I believe that the students may also have more knowledge of the things you can do on the laptops than the teachers do.
Since we are in the computer age, I think it is very important for us to get used to working with new technology, even if it doesn't improve our grades. These days, almost everything is based on computers and information technology. We go to school so we can learn not only English, math, and science, but also modern day uses of technology. It's very critical to learn these skills now while we are in school, so we can suceed in whatever the future may bring us. I think Branford High School is doing a good job on teaching their students about technology. Some examples of this is research and study skills, laptops in class rooms, and smartboards.
ReplyDeleteThe school officals got rid of the laptop program at Liverpool High School because their students were not using the computers for learning reasons and because they saw no improvement in grades. But here at Branford High School, our students are more mature and willing to learn. We also realize that having such up to date technology in our class rooms are only privledges, and that it could be taken away from us at any time. Different schools have different people and to me, the Liverpool High School students seem to have thought that the laptops are toys, but here at Branford High School I think most students would treat the laptops with respect and use them for a positive learning experience.
Michael A.
Period 8
I think having laptops in our classrooms is a good idea. First of all we don't have to worry about getting computer space in the computer lab and we could do more research on the topic we are discussing. We could take notes with Microsoft Word and finish assignment faster. We are saving paper by typing our notes instead of writing long pages on notebook paper. We should have rules for the laptops. People shouldn't be checking their e-mail or going on inappropriate sites because that could mean the laptops could get taken away from all of us. I think it is good that our school is trying to get into the 21 first century and i think the laptops are a really good idea.
ReplyDeleteIthink hat laptops should be used in school. They help students learn better and are fun to use. The school in Liverpool should have done a better job keeping up with the laptops.
ReplyDeleteI think that laptops in school should only be for a designated class. The students should have certain restrictions to use them because, like the article about the Liverpool High School explained, kids were using them to hack and look up pornography. They should have firewalls that stop the students from looking up on those certain websites.
ReplyDeleteIn order to make most out of the laptops, I think that the teacher should have them out only when they needed to used during an in class writing assignment or just to take notes. The kids should not be able to take the laptops out of the classroom unless they are signed out or given permission. With permission being given lets the kids have freedom and that means that they could look up all other websites and even post answers like the Liverpool article states.
Having laptops is almost virtually the same as having a regular computer lab. The kids get to use the computers except they don’t get to take them home with them. That’s why they should only be allowed use in the classroom where the teacher knows that they will be using them for work and not for play.
As technology continues to advance over the years, I believe trying to integrate computers into the classroom will significantly improve students’ understanding of emerging new developments. However, I believe the school in Liverpool, N.Y. made the obvious mistake of giving its students too much freedom—allowing the students to have access to the laptops all day, at both school and at home. In the second article, the teacher also pointed out a very important reason as to why the laptops did nothing to help academically: because teachers were trying to teach using old methods rather than develop new ones to accomadate the new technologies in the classroom. In F14, the laptops are only provided during the actual class, and I’d think that people would use this as an opportunity to actually complete work rather than roam the Internet, especially with the teacher present in the room.
ReplyDeleteThe laptops provide the Internet, which is beneficial in that there are many sources readily available online for researching assignments in class (i.e. information on certain novels; required research for essay topics, etc.). Assignments can be completed quicker via Microsoft Word, and also, students who don’t regularly use computers increase their rate of typing. However, not all class work should be typed up, otherwise this would impact a student’s ability to write up a paper by hand, an important task necessary for completion of CAPT tests and other future writing exams. The laptops should be used to learn about certain essay topics and the most effective way to research with them on the web. As stated before, blogs, forums, etc. would not only help students in and out of school, but also allow students who don’t speak up much to comment regularly.
Guidelines should be fairly simple: use them only for educational purposes, put them away at the end of the class. Other regulations should be obvious, for instance, not damaging the laptops. I suggest the teacher reguarly walk around the room eyeing people’s progress, and those who are fooling around or searching innappropriate things should receive a formal warning, and if the action is committed again, the laptops should be taken away from them.
Haleema, Period 1
Laptops are a great way to students to get more engaged in classroom discussions, and make use of the internet as a valuable source for assignments. laptops make it easier to study online material as a class.
ReplyDeletestudying current events and news makes use of the laptops, especisially since using the computer labs is often slow and time consuming. students viewing pages on idividual laptops is easier and better than using a projector or smart board, as the class can become more actively engaged.
laptops and internet connection can be used as a distraction, but us kids have always been able to distract ourselves from class before we had laptops. simple oversight should be enough to keep students working.
the more teachers use laptops in the classroom, the easier it gets. using the computers as often as possible, especially for written assignments.
Barnett- Per 1
The laptops given to us are a great advance in the classroom for we can now do everything we need for class without leaving the room to go to the library or computer lab. I think the laptops in this class should be used properly and for research that can be done without leaving the room. The laptops should be handled carefully as if it were your own computer, but not used for personal web browsing, etc. We should be using them to really research things and get a better understanding of what we are researching because the laptops offer us numerous sources that can be found on the web. The laptops should be used for school-purposes only and not used to do things you would with your home computer. In order to make the most out of the laptops, it should be made sure that we are using them only for school work and not for our personal enjoyment. Having laptops is basically a huge priveledge and we shouldn't abuse it by doing something stupid such as downloading pornography that could get this priveledge taken away for everyone. Anyone that doesn't use the laptops properly should be banned from using them.
ReplyDeleteI personally think the laptops are great and are going to be so much easier for work done in class. It's great that we have the opportuity of using them and I hope no one ruins it for the rest of us and uses them properly. Teachers should really monitor them because they are expensive pieces of equipment loaned to us. Overall, they are a great replacement for books and going through the trouble of signing out computer labs.
-Krista period 1
The idea of bringing laptops into schools is a good one but for the wrong reasons. The idea that the laptops would improve achidemic ahievment is wrong, it doesnt help kids do better on tests, the laptops are doing the same thing a computer lab does for kids, help them do research at the school without having to go home and do an entire project. As far as firewalls go, blocking everything that someone needs to use a good search engine like googl is pointless because people need pictures for projects and cutting engines makes it difficult if everyone in the class uses the same engine at the same time. Kids that research for ponography in school clearly have way too much time on their hands, its really the teachers fault not the students. If you put a male teenager in a room where a teacher cant see the screen of a laptop, and he has unlimited internet, what do you thinks going to happen? Which brings the point back, to stop that from happining, install a strict firewall that blocks everything, but the real solution is for the teachers to be able to see what their class is doing when they should be researching. Another problem is the damage being done to laptops, there are just some destructive kids in high school, its the way it is, keepig a tight list of who uses what computer is the sulution, making a student lease a laptop is rediculous because not everyone cant afford to pay money for something like that every month.We dont pay for textbooks every month, and most of the damage on those are from wearing down. Bottom line is that laptops are a good idea but for research for students not to use during tests, of corse they're gooing to cheat if the oppertunity arises, if the teacher isnt looking and you can email a friend for the answer, why wouldnt you, honor? Teenagers go by honor amymore. But used in the right place and the right way, laptops are a very good idea if they can be supervised and if students ca be trusted not to break or damage them.
ReplyDelete-Emmett Cassidy period 1
I think that the laptops in the room will really come in useful. I think that we could use them when we have to write essays for class and it’ll also be helpful if we have a projects, because we have quick access to the internet. I don’t think that these laptops should be used for tests or quizzes though, because like it said in the article kids can use the internet while in a test or quiz and the teacher would have no idea. But laptops do save a lot of time because your typing is faster and it takes MUCH less time to take out your classroom laptops and turn them on, without the computer problems, then to take the time and energy out of going to a computer lab that doesn’t work. I think laptops are a great tool to have in the classroom and shouldn’t be taken away.
ReplyDeleteThere is no reason to keep laptops in schols. Sudents don't need more practice with technology they already use it at home all the time. Chances are kids are just going to continue to abuse thier privelages. Computer labs can be crowded and slow and therefore i can see why you would want to use laptops in class, but they don't need to be loaned out to students 24/7. If students can use these laptops to cheat and sill not improve thier grades it shows how laptops are just making us lazier. Students who are attached laptop will lose thier writing skills and test scores will be affected.
ReplyDeleteI think that laptops should be used in the classroom because they are more handy and convenient than regular desktop computers. The faculty and staff in Liverpool allowed their students to take the laptops out of the classrooms only to found them to be misused. This was a fault on both the faculty and students because the faculty allowed the students to take the laptops out and the students because they were the ones who misused them. If they all worked together and used these devices properly, they would find out that laptops are a useful part of today’s technology.
ReplyDeleteI think that we should keep the laptops in the classroom. When people in the classroom use the computers for other things then they are supposed to then its their fault. They should use their time wisely for their own education. I think we can do so many things on the computers and I think they would help out a lot. Computers would make class easier.
ReplyDeleteJulie per 3
I really liked the comments from _Emily Period 5_because she has a point on keeping the laptops in the classroom. The usage of laptops helps us get prepaired for collage because we will most likely be using them constantly. Using the laptops is a better way to do papers and take notes. To answer Emily’s question “should we really try and take away laptops from the people who are trying to learn”, my answer is no because the poeple who are downloading pornography and surfing the web instead of learnin shouldnt jepordize the other students access to these computers who are trying to learn.
ReplyDeleteI think taking the lab tops away were not a good idea becuase the teachers could of been mroe strict with them and not have the kdis get aay with bad things to them They were very usefula nd made attendance go up and lower the amount of detentions. If a student did soemthing wrong it should of been taken away from him/her not anyone who ddnt abuse them. TO me the laptops should be at eery school thats needs them.
ReplyDeleteLabtops should be not at an school. they are a waste of money for my parents cause students will do bad things with them no doubt about it
ReplyDeleteI think having the laptops in class saves a lot of time over going to the computer labs. In the computer labs, all computers are very slow and some don't even work. The laptops give us the freedom to research and type papers in class without having to leave most of an assignment for homework.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the second link that criticized the NY Times article. "...it's not about delivering the same old curriculum with new a technology." If the reason why laptops are being taken out of schools like the one in Liverpool, then lesson plans should be made to give using the laptops importance and appeal to learning
The faculty and staff in Liverpool allowed their students to take the laptops out of the classrooms only to found them to be misused. This was a fault on both the faculty and students because the faculty allowed the students to take the laptops out and the students because they were the ones who misused them. If they all worked together and used these devices properly, they would find out that laptops are a useful part of today’s technology
ReplyDeleteThere is no reason to keep laptops in schols. Sudents don't need more practice with technology they already use it at home all the time. Chances are kids are just going to continue to abuse thier privelages. Computer labs can be crowded and slow and therefore i can see why you would want to use laptops in class, but they don't need to be loaned out to students 24/7. If students can use these laptops to cheat and sill not improve thier grades it shows how laptops are just making us lazier. Students who are attached laptop will lose thier writing skills and test scores will be affected.
ReplyDeleteI agree that having laptops is a privledge for kids today, and it shouldnt be to hard to take care of them, i think that when you recieve a laptop to use , it is then your responsibilty to take care of it and follow the simple rules. The children going on and dowloading inapropriate sites need to realize that these laptops cost alot of money. The only time you should go on these sites if anything thing is at home on your own computer. The sites are blocked for reasons, not so you can find a way around them, its so that you dont go on the sites because they bring in viruses. Having these laptops is a fantastic improvement this year, it not only gives the kids some independence, but i think that it can also be another way of learning. If we just made some steps towards tightining the security around them like making contracts for the students to follow, and that the students will have to pay for the damage of the computers. But i do not think you should take the computers away.
ReplyDelete^ andie kennedy period 7
ReplyDeleteI think that the kids should not use the computers to look up bad things on the computer. The kids should use the computers in class only and they should not be able to take the computers out of the class. It is beter to have the lab tops in class because there might not be enough computers at the computer lab. You should hold the computers with two hands so you dont drop the lab top if you drop it you will have to pay for it. Joe class 3
ReplyDeletehello moto.
ReplyDeleteKids using laptops in school seems like a good idea. I think they can really help with a research project, really any assignment. It also helps so teachers don’t need to fight for a specific time down in the computer lab. Plus, what’s the difference if a kid uses a laptop or one of the schools regular computers; they all do the same thing. I also think laptops can take over notebooks in the future, now we can just take notes and aver them to a word document, instead of taking the risk of getting it ruined in a notebook. That’s why it’s good though start using them now.
ReplyDeleteRyan Per. 8
I think that the use of laptops in our English class is a great improvement over last year. We don’t need to go to computer labs anymore, and we don’t have to worry abut there not being enough computers for everyone. We can use the laptops for better and more accurate research for English class. We can use them to write papers or read articles without having to waste paper. Using laptops will also help us get ready for college, when you use them all the time. According to the article about Liveroppl High School, the students were using the laptops to download pornography and roam the internet. Sure, some students might do that here, but do we really want to take away this opportunity from kids who actually want to learn?
ReplyDeletei dont think that the laptopaps should be taken away. they are a good way to save paper, i dont think that the class should depend on them but just to write papers they can be used. also most of the computer labs are really slow. the laptops can be used for when we need to do reaserch. the laptops dont have to be used for everything but just to do some important things.
ReplyDeleteLaptops in school can be named as a bad idea at first, but after the students get accustomed to using it, they basically rely on them. It’s better to update this generation on modern technology because we will be the ones creating new things to improve it. So if were familiarized with it now at a young age, we’ll be able to work with it more efficiently in years.
ReplyDeleteI don’t think it was fair at all to take the lap tops away from so many kids in New York especially when it was probably only a few other kids causing all the trouble. All issues end up like this. One person can ruin something for every one else. I think that laptops in the class room is a really good idea and just needs a little bit of time before every one gets use to them. Now that we are doing these responses, there probably won’t be any one stupid enough to screw around with them. I am sure that the laptops will be safe in the school.
ReplyDeleteI think that laptops should only be used during classes like English, science and history to research. Having laptops in class saves lots of time over going to computer labs, where computers are very slow. Where as, the laptops are faster and easier to work on.
ReplyDeleteI also think that laptops shouldn't be allowed during tests or quiz's because students might e-mail the answers. We should only use laptops for research and tying up reports.We can research alot from computer than from the books.
Kriti
Period 7
Personally, I feel that the jump to laptops from traditional lectures and notes in school is useful and necessary. In our changing world, it is important to keep up with technology. While most students have at least one computer at home, they may not know how to use it resourcefully to its full capability. Branford High School, in my opinion, made a good choice with their purchase.
ReplyDeleteThe concept of laptops in school, however, has its cons, also. Foremost, the internet blocks to myspace, facebook, and sites of that kind can be easy to get around if you know how. The first rule that should be established is that anything that penetrates the school’s firewalls should be forbidden. Another is that the laptops shouldn’t be used outside class because of thievery. The teacher of the students using the laptops should keep close supervision on the students, to assure that cheating or other forms of misuse do not happen.
I see both sides of this argument. I understand Liverpool, N.Y.’s decision, but I disagree. Liverpool’s decision to phase out the laptops was a mistake; I feel that instead they should have come up with better ways to prohibit over usage and distractions. Their decision simply put millions of hard earned tax dollars to waste.
mia, period one
I think that laptops can be effective in class if used appropriately. Teachers should only let the students borrow a laptop if they sign a waiver saying that they will not damage the computer and if they do they could be fined. The laptops would not be able to go out of school and the students would have to return them after a certain amount of time. Also teachers should have some lessons planned specifically for the laptops in their class. They definitely should not be using old lessons that don't work for the computers.
ReplyDeleteI think what Liverpool did was a stupid thing to do. They should have gave the program more time. Maybe if they gave it time they could have found out the pluses to laptops.
After viewing both atricles, and comparing my own person experience, i believe laptops are necessary in the classroom. If used correctly, they can help a student out quickly and without demanding the teachers attention be on that one student. It is easier to have someone type an essay, than to get them to hand write it.We can research alot more things with a computer than with books.
ReplyDeleteBut, it has to be done correctly. If the firewall is easy to overpass, then the students will be using the laptops to their advantage and taking it for granted. The students wouldnt be able to do that if the firewall was set up correctly. Also, the laptops should betaken care of, and rules should be set for them, like not taking them out of the classroom.
As the article stated, there are kids who do use computers for bad stuff like downloading pornography and searching the internet, but also, some kids don’t do that. I don’t believe it would be fair to take away the opportunity to use the laptops to all students, those not obeying the rule, and also the ones who are. Personally I think they should just stop it where it starts, and get a higher protection for the internet. But, if it doesn't work.. Banning the kids who disobey the rules, instead of the whole class, would be a much better idea.
I guess it all depends on which is the less of two evils. Having laptops in classrooms can be great if used correctly and in moderation. They are good if all distractions like video games, websites like facebook and myspaces, porn and all other inappropriate things were blocked and any codes to get to them were blocked too. I’m a student and I can tell you right now that I’d check my facebook or email friends over doing the assignment. If the teachers have a good teaching plan that can incorporate computers then by all means that class should use laptops, but as for a history test with students having the ability to email as fast as any instant messenger could, then maybe the old fashion way of pen and pencil is a good idea. Technology cannot be ignored but it shouldn't replace everything used in a classroom. If there is a research paper to be done for a class then the teacher should have a requirement of a couple resource on paper (i.e. newspaper, book) and some from the Internet. If used in moderation then computers are a great addition to education.
ReplyDeleteSo I guess it really comes down to cost, is it worth paying hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars on computers. In a lot of people’s opinions it isn’t worth it. I too agree that it its not worth the cost to have every student have a computer to take home but I do think it is a great idea for classes to have the ability to use computer and then maybe use CD ROMs for outside of school use or a website with the information needed that is accessible from any computer because lets face it just about every home in the U.S. has a computer in it and if a student doesn’t have one at home then they can still use school computers at after school or go to a library (libraries do have computers the public can use, I’ve used them before.) if all that is not possible then the school could just not give homework that needs a computer and just use them during school.
As far as grades go, a computer cannot make you smarter. It depends on the student, if the student chooses to work hard then a laptop becomes the world’s knowledge at the tips of his/her fingertips but if the student is lazy then a laptop quickly becomes the cheater’s way out. Every school should have at least some class sets of computers, but I don’t think its necessary for the entire school to run solely on computers because after all not all jobs are computer related. Some jobs don’t require computer knowledge at all, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t know how to us one.
Having laptops in the class room is a good idea. The laptops can be used in many ways; for writing papers, looking up articles, or using the websites online to find information. With laptops all of this research can be done in the class room. There wouldn’t be any hassle with worrying about the computers in the library or the computer labs not working.
ReplyDeleteThe kids should have rules while using these laptops, they are a privilege. If a student breaks a rule while using a laptop they should be punished, not the entire school. The kids will also enjoy using these laptops, so they will probably stay on task and focused.
Kelsey period7
I don't think that labtops are neseccary in school. For one reason, students do thousands of dollars of damage a year. Having labtops also makes it easier to cheat on tests. Many schools have said that with the use of labtops, there is still no academic improvement. The costs of labtops are also excessive for a school budget. The money should be spent on other things that are needed such as new text books and new lockers. etc.
ReplyDeleteummm how lucky we are to have the opportunity to use such new and advanced technology. We are so fortunate that our school is able to afford brand new laptops for all of us. We can use the laptops for better and more accurate research for English class. We can use them to write papers or read articles without having to waste paper. Using laptops will also help us get ready for college, when you use them all the time.
ReplyDeleteusing laptop in class we can do short in class research projects, either singly or in groups. For instance we can deepen class discussions.
I agree that there may be flaws in how the laptop situation is being used. In the first article it mentioned how students were misusing their privileges of their laptops by logging on to inappropriate sites.Teachers can also incorporate their laptop access into their lesson plans, which is probably helpful. I agree with kriti, Period 7 she said that Having laptops in class saves lots of time over going to computer labs, where computers are very slow. Where as, the laptops are faster and easier to work on.
I also think that laptops shouldn't be allowed during tests or quiz's because students might e-mail the answers.I totally agree with her.
Roji
period.3rd
1. I really liked the comment(s) from Ryan v from period 1 and Gio from period 3 because I agree that the having laptops available for use by any student at all times is a good idea. The faculty and staff in Liverpool allowed their students to take the laptops out of the classrooms only to found them to be misused. Also the class would have to go to the computer labs without the labtops. Half of the computers in the computer lab don’t even work and there aren’t enough computers for the entire class there any way.
ReplyDelete2. The following guidelines should become part of our Laptop Etiquette Policy in F14:
The labtops shouldn’t leave the class room so that students can’t misuse them with out the teacher knowing or be vandalized like most of the computers in the computer lab. We should only use the labtops for class projects and essay and research for class projects. And the labtops should be handled with care so we don’t have to use money to repair or replace them.
doug, period 5
I agree with bridget from period 5. She stated many things the way I would and makes very clear and good points. I also think that our generation of children are becoming generally lazy. I also agree with Bridget that what those children did with those computers was very inappropraite for school. Bridget made a good piont that this laptop idea may work in BHS but we would hav to hav more rules and regulations when using the computers. They would be a good way to complete work quickly.
ReplyDeleteHaleema also made very good points that I would’ve never thought of. She has opposite ideas than I did but since I read her ideas I actually think that laptops aren’t that bad. She makes a good point when saying that teachers are trying to use old techniques to teach new ones. I agree when she stated that she thinks Liverpool gave their students too much freedom and access to the laptops and we should only use them in class at BHS.
I think that the issue of laptops being used for cheating on tests and watching pornography is an issue that makes all students look bad, not just the ones who are doing it. Responsible students should not be punished for something that their fellow students have done. In my opinion, laptops are efficient ways to learn while only adding on to the teacher's curriculum, not replacing it. They can help the teacher in many ways and also teach responsibility. Laptops are great for typing assignments and researching for projects. I think a lot of students can abide by the rules and use the laptops in a mature way, but the ones who aren’t able to do so should be punished and have them taken away. The students who prove they are responsible should have the privilege of using the laptops.
ReplyDeleteAmy, Period 7
Laptop Policies
ReplyDelete1. No bad sites
2. No checking out laptops
3. No abuseing
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