The Maine Learning Technology Initiative The Maine Idea: A Computer for Every Lap RUNNING A LAPTOP PROGRAM
Via e-mail, The George Lucas Educational Foundation asked Laura Richter, technology integration specialist at Skowhegan Area Middle School, to explain the mechanics of running a laptop program. Here is her reply:
In September, I meet with all the students to go over laptop basics: I introduce them to the OS X system – how to add printers, how to organize their folders, and how to access e-mail. The state of Maine provides every middle school with a First Class mail program called MiddleMaine. It is here that students send e-mail and back up their important files. This is also how teachers access troubleshooting help from Apple in regards to software, hardware, and mail.
Next comes the parent training, because all must attend in order for the students to take the laptops home. They too receive the basics and are encouraged to take a look at the resources and the work that is being done on the laptops.
When a laptop does not work, students bring it to the technician and it is diagnosed. Apple has a VERY efficient system set up where we call in, and they ask tech-oriented questions regarding the functionality. If it looks like something we cannot solve here, we mail it in and give the student a spare. Since it is an essential tool, they are not expected to be without it. The turnaround is very fast, and I get the machine back within a few days. Parents may choose to purchase insurance, and we pay the deductible of $100. However, Apple has a buffer pool from which we have replaced machines that have serious damage. Apple has paid for all damage so far. If it is a situation where a student has intentionally damaged a machine, then the insurance or the school has to pay. We have budgeted the money for the deductible, as I said earlier, but have not had to use it. The students are very respectful of the machines and little damage has been done. I use the "care and feeding of your baby" analogy when I train them, and I believe it has helped tremendously. I tell them to be very careful, hold it gently and keep it fed regularly - charge it, that is. If a screen breaks, we write up an accident report and Apple has so far covered this.
The Maine Learning Technology Initiative (MLTI) has provided the training to all seventh and eighth grade teachers. The technology learning leaders (TLL's – teachers who train other teachers, I am one) trained all over the state for two days..I was paid by SEED, a nonprofit education program funded by a challenge grant. We trained with Apple and then delivered training to other teachers. Now that that is over, the state holds "content meetings”, where teachers learn and share with other teachers of their discipline. I am the social studies content leader for the Kennebec region, and when we have the meetings, the state pays for the substitute teacher. The next round of content meetings will have teachers of different disciplines together, so they can plan interdisciplinary or integrated units. This is a tremendous help for the teachers. We also have regional mentors (RIMs), who coordinate information and contact teacher leaders (there is one teacher leader in each school). The state pays the regional leader, the content leader, and the teacher leader a stipend. My RIM page is http://www.msad54.k12.me.us/MSAD54Pages/SAMS/Kennebec/Kennebecindex.html. It announces meetings and has lead teachers listed.
SEED also provides staff development for focus sessions on the integration of programs like iMovie, AppleWorks etc. Our school also provides its own staff development, which is taught by the teacher leader and me. I believe other schools provide this also. SEED pays the TLLs, and the teachers attend for free.
The e-mail system is regulated at the school level. We can choose to have a closed system or open. Here we choose the open system because we collaborate on projects. A town meeting project is brewing right now, and it will include students from every region in Maine. The First class program will allow a forum for communicating ideas. Teachers are finding that it is necessary to be up and about in the classroom. In order to ensure that students are not accessing games or inappropriate sites, the first step is to have meaningful conversations with them about correct use of the laptop as an educational tool. Rules and consequences are established with student involvement, thus there is ownership from the beginning. When students are caught playing games, they may lose the freedom to manage the machine...or be closely supervised when using the tool. We do have a program called Remote Desktop that allows teachers to freeze the screen when they observe inappropriate use. This need only be done once to serve as an effective deterrent. When students are sending personal messages in class, they may lose e-mail use for a week. For the most part, the students hate losing the control of this valuable tool, and thus tend to make good choices.
Students at the Skowhegan Area Middle School researched historical topics and did an in-depth study of the town an its people.
Via e-mail, The George Lucas Educational Foundation asked Laura Richter, technology integration specialist at Skowhegan Area Middle School, to explain the mechanics of running a laptop program. Here is her reply:
