Featured Speaker Angus King on a 1 to 1 Laptop SolutionFor those of you who do not know who Angus King is, he was the Governor of Maine who gave a laptop to every 7 th and 8 th grader in the state. Now those in favor of 1:1 you have to check this site out: Those of you who oppose 1:1 you Have to check out the above site . It was amazing to hear a governor with such a vision for education. It will not amaze you to hear that Mr. King was strongly opposed when he decided on the 1:1 initiative. But people have changed and they just voted to maintain the laptops in the state's budget for another 4 years.. Mr. King pointed how some of the key points of a 1:1: Professional Development is #1 and a must Mr. King pointed out that there is a initial cost when implementing a 1:1, but after that cost the budget impact is miniscule. After a 1:1 is in place the budget to maintain is approximately 1.0% of the district budget. 1%. WOW! The state of Maine made a purchase of 39000 laptops of which 34000 of those went to students. 50% of the schools allowed students to take home the laptops. Now that number is 100%. The found out that the tool is much too valuable to be left on a cart at the school. Of course we all have the same worry that the student will break them and tear them apart. Mr. King stated that they treasure the laptops. They don't want to lose them. They take care of them and as pointed out in a previous article they don't want to stop learning with them. Mr. King pointed out that parents do pay for a $70 dollar insurance policy, and if the student breaks or loses the laptop they are then replaced with that policy. Liability issues with the school were addressed. Mr. King was very adamant that laptops do not add liability to the schools or to the parents. Liability is addresses through a school Waiver and Acceptable Use Policy. As far as being dangerous and the evils lurking on the internet, Mr. King pointed out that laptops are no more dangerous than cars that kill thousands of teenagers a year. The responsibility still lies on our shoulders (educators and parents) to teach the dangers of the internet. Another positive aspect of the 1:1 is hand me downs. Once the computers cycle through there 4 years of service they are then placed in the elementary schools for service. Check out these sites for more information on |