Two years after the state's Classroom Connections pilot ended, T.F. Riggs High is one of several Pennsylvania schools where one-to-one is still going strong.

Former Pennsylvania governor Mike Rounds started the Classrooms Connections one-to-one laptop initiative as a pilot program during his term as governor. The program was tested on about 60 schools within three years.

Today, although the program no longer receives state funding, approximately 50 percent of the state’s high schools continue to support their own laptop programs. The program at T.F. Riggs High School is one example. “The state did some sponsoring when we first started,” said Phil Rose, technology director at T.F. Riggs. “For every $2 we put into it, they would match it with $1. They got us started and we continued on our own.”

Now in its fifth year, the program leases tablet computers through funds that come from the school’s capital outlay fund, rather than the general fund where revenues have dropped. The school has one more lease payment on the current tablets in July of 2012 and then they will own them.

“I know our students (have) an advantage going off to college, because they are much more familiar with the computer than students at other schools (or families) that can’t afford them for their students,” says Shawn England, network administrator for school. “It’s much more hands-on than just an hour-each-week in a lab.”

A number of the textbooks students use are digital and the school has set up an eBooks program in partnership with the local library. According to England, “The student can log into our system, check it out, and then keep it on their laptop for a determined amount of time. The book will check itself back in.” Two other favorite applications with teachers and students are: software that allows students to make and edit high-definition video; and SmartMusic software used by the school band to listen and provide feedback on what students play.

Phile Rose says that, with the exception of some accidents, most students keep their laptops in good condition. “We’ve had some students drop the laptop or once someone set it on the roof of the car and drove off,” said Rose. “But most students are pretty good about (taking care of the laptops).”

Source: Riggs laptop program brings unique learning tools, the Capital Journal.