Laptops for every student

The Keewatin Patricia District School Board (KPDSB) is purchasing laptops for all Grade 4-12 students to improve teaching and learning through the use of technology in classrooms.
“Students need to be prepared for 21st century careers and be very adept with media literacy and other technology savvy skills,” said Jack McMaster, KPDSB’s director of education.
“We had presentations to our trustees at board meetings with respect to some of the projects teachers are doing with kids and have received excellent feedback. They are seeing much more productive writing and deeper thinking. When handwritten projects come in, the kids don’t go into it in as much depth as they would with the technology, so our teachers are seeing better forms of writing and more writing.”
McMaster said students are more willing to convey information to the teacher through technology than through written text.
“So the teachers are very pleased with what is happening and I think we are seeing some changes to the format in the teaching,” McMaster said.
“In the past we were the vessels of knowledge; now when we have the technology, we can actually facilitate the learning for the kids and try to develop more independent learners.”
KPDSB is also purchasing a minimum of one iPad for every four students in Kindergarten to Grade 3, as well as mobile laptop labs for every Grade 3 class to assist in the transition to Grade 4.
Teacher desktop computers will also be replaced with laptops and docking stations.
The total cost for the computer purchases is about $2.3 million.
KPDSB carried out a pilot project at three elementary schools during the 2011-2012 school year, with Grade 4-12 students being equipped with laptops and wireless Internet access in their classrooms. Students from JK to Grade 3 were provided with access to mobile netbook labs and iPads and classrooms were equipped with interactive whiteboards.
More than 600 students completed a survey to assess the pilot project, with 80 per cent of JK-Grade 2 students, 97 per cent of Grade 3-5 students and 94 per cent of Grade 6-8 students stating they liked using the technology.
“We got some feedback from our students last year and it was pretty evident that this was a direction we needed to continue going in,” McMaster said.
“In particular, we had a number of Grade 8 students who were very concerned about coming to high school without having their netbooks with them because they were so used to having them and using them and immediately accessing information about any topic instantaneously.”
Nearly all parents/guardians who completed the survey also felt it is important for the school to provide technology for their children.
“I think the parents saw the enthusiasm the kids brought to learning,” McMaster said.