Laptops in the classroom help middle-schoolers learn

Raleigh, N.C. — Laptops in the hands of middle-schoolers.

Teachers and students say it has made a big difference in learning at Centennial Campus Middle School in Raleigh.

Cary-based SAS, the world's largest privately held software company, gave the school more than 200 laptops, as well as software, last year.

Eighth-grade teacher Jessica Nelson said the laptops and wireless Internet access in her classroom allow her to go beyond the normal language-arts curriculum.

"I'm able to teach the standard course of study, but I'm able to enrich it with real-world examples," Nelson said.

When teaching about Edgar Allen Poe, Nelson asks her students if they know what cholera is. Before hearing from the teacher, the students can hop on the Internet and see if they can figure it out for themselves.

Students talked about the benefits of the laptops in other subjects as well.

"In math, we have this program that lets us draw sketches on the Internet, and they're more accurate than if the teacher was drawing them or if we drew them," student Nonye Onokalah said.

Teachers said the laptops have even helped students get more of their assignments done.

"Put a computer in front of them and give them the option of typing that paper, and that stress, anxiety goes out the window," Nelson said. "So I have a higher turn-in rate for a lot of my term papers."

The students store their laptops in their classrooms at the end of the school day, but the Internet keeps them connected to school – via teachers' Web sites – even at home.

"They have my actual notes, how they were given in class, to make sure they didn't miss something as they were copying. ... They can go home and print it," Nelson said.

Centennial officials believe that students' computer competency test scores have risen as a result. During the first full year of having laptops in the classroom, the percentage of students with passing scores rose from around 70 to 92.5 percent.

Students said their parents appreciate the extra boost their children have been given.

"My parents are happy about that, because in the world around us, technology is the big thing," student Prakhar Naithan said. "And if you don't know about technology, then you can't really get around."

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Latest Comments

I think it is wonderful that SAS donated these to this school. I hope that those of you assuming the worst of these students invovled in this initiative have your facts straight about all the horrible things these kids are going to do.

tanahusky
November 20, 2008 9:28 p.m.

You could use that same argument for written textbooks.

At least textbooks and journals have been peer-reviewed. And, yes, there is bias in these works.

But the job of an educator should be to train his/her students to pick out the bias. Any idiot with a modicum of talent can develop a web page and get it into search engines.

colliedave
November 20, 2008 9:24 p.m.

I am all for having a mix of educational tools available to all kids. I think having the computers available is awesome. Not all kids will get to use a computer in the home or community. By having them at school and allowing daily use it helps level that field of experience.

I don't think that computers are taking over the classroom, I think teachers are finding ways to incorporate it while still teaching and using the standard/traditional/pen and paper methods. Both have their merits and should not be forgotten!

something2say
November 20, 2008 8:50 p.m.

Having computers in the classroom is a very positive learning strategy. When these students enter high school, they will be competent in doing research-based classwork- which more curriclums are requiring.