Laptops for Everyone

     A classroom in an inner-city school often contains students reading two to three levels below their actual grade to two to three levels above. Any teacher can attest to the difficulty of meeting the needs of all the students. In this type of situation personalizing instruction is an absolute necessity, but it is practically impossible for a teacher to do this without assistance.
     Laptop computers are clearly the best method for helping teachers meet the needs of a group of learners with very divergent skills. Obviously those who suffer the most are the students who are struggling to learn and the highest achievers who can conceivably sit through a whole day of school and learn very little new material. Frequently, it is assumed that the brightest students are OK  because there can learn independently. This simply is not true.  Students who spend years in school without ever having to put forth any effort can fail to develop the study skills and self-discipline that they need to be successful in high school and college. As for the other end of the spectrum, those students who are one and two years below grade level need intensive instruction to decrease the gap between their academic level and their grade level. Using technology to help personalize instruction is one way to address the difficulties of vastly different achievement levels in one classroom. 
     Some believe we can just give every student a laptop and the children can teach themselves (Give Them a Laptop), and others think that a laptop for every student is a waste of money. As with most educational issues, the answer lies someplace in the middle.  There are schools integrating technology use and laptops for students as early as third grade with teacher instruction with excellent results (Smart Technology).
     We do know that children can learn on their own. They were learning before ever starting school and they are learning constantly outside of school. But children do need instruction and guidance from adults. Laptops are in no way a replacement for teachers, however, they can be a valuable tool for helping teachers provide
personalized instruction for all students. Every student matters.

Technology in the Classroom

     Today's students have grown up with technology that was never available to their parents. Technology is  a part of their culture, as much as books and pencils and paper.  Considering  technology literacy as another essential area of  literacy is becoming increasingly accepted in classrooms around the country. Most students today do have access to computers at their schools, and most teachers attempt to integrate computers into their instruction in some way.
     Children receive many benefits from the use of computer assisted instruction (CIA). Even if a teacher has little training in the use of technology, there are two widely used  programs which allow students to improve basic math and reading skills working independently. An excellent program for learning math facts is Fastt Math (Fastt Math). The program provides modeling, practice, games as reinforcement for mastering facts. Children are able to benefit from personalized practice as the program maintains levels of instruction and each time the student logs on they begin at the appropriate level.
     Accelerated Reader (AR)  tests are also highly motivating to children (Accelerated Reader). After reading a book, students can take a test on the book and their scores are recorded and points are awarded for the number of correctly answered questions. Tests are available for all reading levels. All students have the opportunity to read on the level that is best for them.  Since students enjoy these activities, they are more engaged and learn more.
     Some people regard technology as edutainment, but I disagree. I have personally observed the learning that occurs from Fastt Math and AR as well as other programs. Given the wide range of academic skill levels which can vary by several grade levels  in a single classroom, using computers to personalize instruction helps in providing instruction that is appropriate and engaging for each student. Every student matters.