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INFRASTRUCTURE
Headlines
Laptop Battery Shortage
A shortage caused by a South Korean fire has had its impact but a rebound is expected soon.
Pueblo, Colorado, to Equip High Schoolers with Laptops
When school starts next fall, every student in the three high schools of Pueblo Colorado’s Rural District 70 will have a laptop for the school year.
Laptop Pilot Expands in Union City, Michigan
A one-to-one laptop program on Michigan's Lower Peninsula expands from a single grade to six.
Cutting Edge in Carolina
Getting one-to-one to work isn't easy. Here's how one district was able to do it.
Cody Accelerates Laptop Program
A two-year-old program in this Wyoming district is doubling in size, and finding economies of scale as it does so.
An Iowa District Offers Laptops to Eight Grade Levels at Once
The Central City Schools will provide laptops for all students in grades 5-12 and mobile computer labs for grades K-4
"Netbooks" Piloted in Oregon Classrooms
Two third-grade classes at Buckman Elementary School in Portland, Oregon, are part of a national pilot program that provides each student with a diminutive computer designed especially for education.
Laptops to Replace Textbooks in a Michigan High School
Educators at Manistee High School are hoping to keep up with the times by moving away from textbooks and towards the daily use of computers.
To Help Prepare Students and Relieve Back Strain, a Maryland Middle School Switches to Laptops
Sixth-graders at Trinity Lutheran School in Joppa, a Baltimore suburb, will be carrying laptops rather than textbooks this fall
Big Spring Laptops Back -- With a New Filter
High school students in Big Spring, Texas, regain their laptop privileges after the school adds new filtering and educates families about appropriate use.
Intel's Chairman Comments on the Future of U.S. Education
In recent commentary for Forbes magazine, Craig R. Barrett addresses the crisis in American education today and what we can do about it.
Laptops exceed expectations in Kansas City
Students, teachers and administrators in Kansas City love their laptops.
Existing Tech Funds Buy Thin Clients
Here's a look at how one district put computers in the hands of individual students without raising per-pupil costs.
New Ohio Elementary School Gets Thin Client Laptops
Students at Heritage Hill Elementary, a new public school in a low-income community outside Cincinnatti, will participate in an at-school, one-to-one program with thin-client laptops.
New Ohio Elementary School Gets Thin Client Laptops
Laptops Assist Test-Taking
Indiana nursing students have access to laptops for computerized testing, thanks to a grant from AT&T.
E-book Readers Maturing
Kindle and challengers shake up the e-book market.
Students at Heritage Hill Elementary, a new public school in a low-income community outside Cincinnatti, will participate in an at-school, one-to-one program with thin-client laptops.
Energy Efficient Hard Drives
Seagate shows off new technology that addresses the challenge of extending the life of laptop batteries
Tempting Tablets
A look at how to make the ‘write’ choice between a tablet and a notebook computer.
Sweetwater Seventh Graders Get Laptops
Thanks to wind-energy funds, the Highland district in Sweetwater, Texas, has laptops for seventh grade students and Palm handhelds for fourth graders.
Seventh Graders Get Laptops in Cameron, TX
Cameron is one of 22 school districts to get laptops – and some great support services – for the 2007-08 school year through Texas' statewide TIP program.
South Carolina Pilots iAm Laptop Program
The state-funded ninth grade program is aimed at enhancing achievement and increasing work force competitiveness.
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INFRASTRUCTURE
Infrastructure supports technology-enhanced learning

With one-to-one:

  • Learning is student centered.
  • Software is mobilized to go anywhere with students.
  • The technology is accessible anytime.

About Laptops…

  • Lightweight Minimum battery power of 4 hours
  • Sturdy Implement a battery exchange plan
  • Consider protective storage Provide written usage guidelines
  • Consider security Provide onsite docking stations
  • 3 – 5 year equipment life Standardize software
  • Standardize hardware Allow for flexibility
  • Establish reasonable specs Make maintenance convenient
  • Base specs on project goals Use wireless cards
  • Make software upgrades easy Help students transport laptops easily
  • Buy the best machines Consider specially designed backpacks you can afford

About Support…

  • Provide teachers and administrators with laptops at least one year prior to a one-to-one implementation.
  • Operational budgets should allow for ongoing staff and teacher professional development.
  • Schedule regular meetings between parents, teachers, students and support staff to address issues that arise. Efficient problem solving upfront prevents minor issues from escalating into major problems.
  • Consider all support issues and staff resources available.
  • Log, track and analyze trouble reports.
  • Use student support and expertise. This approach challenges advanced students while reducing the load on IT staff.
  • Consider computer training classes for parents to ensure they can help students at home. This will strengthen learning by improving the school-home relationship.

About Networks…

  • A stable, reliable network strongly influences user’s trust in a system.
  • The network should easily perform daily operations.
  • Plan for extra physical space needed for added computers, servers, and peripheral equipment.
  • Ongoing professional development, sustainability and maintenance are equally important.
  • The infrastructure must be easily scalable to allow for future growth; therefore, project your needs well into the future.
  • Install instructor workstations to permit viewing students’ screens during class time.
  • Perform stress tests on the system to make sure that the system can support a large number of users simultaneously.
  • Test wireless signals in multiple settings and conditions.
  • Consider software licensing agreements. Heed computer licensing requirements and policies, and negotiate home use of software licenses.
  • Ideally, students can access the Internet from school and from home. Benefits include increased learning potential through continuous connectivity and bolstering the school-home relationship.

Consider This:  

  • Anytime, Anywhere: Ubiquitous and mobile learning environments.
  • Lighter, thinner and faster notebooks and tablets.
  • Technology and learning are mutually complementary.
  • Facilitate collaborative and connected learning.
  • Reliable and accessible student/teacher and student/student collaboration.
  • Individualized learning where students determine their own pace.



One-to-One Logistics
Check out these practical presentations as part of an archived webinar on "One-to-one Planning and Logistics: How-To Tips from the Experts."


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