Elementary Laptop Visit

It's been several weeks since our visit to three elementary schools. The purpose of the visit was to get a first-hand glimpse of the pilot schools where 5th grade students were given netbooks to enhance their language arts skills.

Well, there's a lot more to it than that. It's not as if the netbooks were just plopped down without guidance, support and training for the staff and their students. I'll not dwell on that part of the task, but sufficed to say that the students and teachers are showing proficiency and expertise. There seems to be a general enthusiasm for the tools and the expanded emphasis on writing for these students.

We were able to chat with students at each school and observe their writing. It was a fantastic opportunity for our 6th grade LA teachers to get an advance look at the project AND the students who will be attending our school in the fall. I found the trip to be rewarding for many reasons. It got us talking together as a team about the netbook project, it gave us an opportunity to see it in action, and it helped our teachers to bond with other teachers who have been doing this and paving the way. In a way it showed our teachers, who are already doing a lot with their smartboards, other ways in which LPS is making 21st Century Learning a possibility for all students.

Here's a few pics taken during our visit. If you click on them, they will get bigger.