Palm Springs Unified School district’s recently-launched one-to-one program is winning points with community members. Writes one:

It's made a big difference in my niece's attitude towards school. She's become more motivated and focused since she received a computer ... Thanks to the district for implementing this program and everyone else involved in acquiring the laptops. I hope that more schools will be able to participate in the "24/7 Learning " laptop program in the near future.

Another enthusiastic parent writes, in Spanish, of her gratitude for the opportunity and how impressed she is with what her son can do after just a few months with the laptop.

Cielo Vista Elementary distributed laptops to fourth and fifth graders at the beginning of the school year and recently hosted a tour of teachers attending the California CUE conference. Cathedral City High and Cathedral City Elementary distributed laptops to groups of students a bit later in the year. James Workman Middle School distributed some at the beginning of the spring semester.

Cielo Vista teachers explain that the students are more motivated to learn, and they are impressed with how quickly students learned to use the laptops. The students also are more excited to read their assignments on the computer than in a heavy textbook, said Cindy Bellamy, who teaches English and social studies. They're "reading the same information, (but) they are more engaged," she said. "I don't hear the moans and groans like I used to."

Source : Palm Springs Sun, '24/7' laptop program motivating Palm Springs