Posted 10:57 am Friday, September 24, 2010
Laptop Initiative Begins At Jacksonville High School
By KELLY GOOCH
Staff Writer
JACKSONVILLE -- Jacksonville Independent School District is working to keep up with the technology.
Staff Writer
JACKSONVILLE -- Jacksonville Independent School District is working to keep up with the technology.
Laptops are expected to be distributed to freshmen Tuesday as part of a Ninth Grade Initiative Immersion Project.
The 325 Dell laptops, which are being funded by a $500,000 Vision 2020 grant, will be used inside the classroom and at students' homes.
"Our world outside of school has become mainly based on technology, but inside the school we're way far behind in preparing students for the real world," said Debbie McGraw, the Jacksonville High School campus technology specialist. Students "having a laptop at their disposal 24 hours a day, seven days a week can only benefit them as far as preparing them for real world."
Jacksonville ISD public relations coordinator Marc McCloud described the laptops as "a little smaller than a regular laptop."
He said they will come with a fingerprint-proof case, and they will be loaded with Microsoft Office and Adobe software, among other programs. There is also a wireless Internet connection.
Although students will use the laptops in class and at home, they will have filtering in place to block any inappropriate websites, McCloud said.
Ms. McGraw said any student wanting to check out a laptop for the rest of the year has to pay $45, sign forms and watch training videos online.
Even with all of the training teachers and students have to go through, officials said it should be well worth the effort.
"I think it will make the school a lot more fun for everybody," Ms. McGraw said of the laptop initiative. "I think we will encounter issues and problems, but the good that is going to come from it will outweigh the bad."
McCloud said some students don't have Internet access at home, so the laptop will give them a new means to do school work.
Jacksonville High School Principal Tammy Jones said this is another link that will help students engage in various models of technology that are part of everyday life.
"Those on the freshman team are excited about integrating this technology …," she said. "We're just excited about the opportunity."
Officials hope to provide laptops to more students in the future if funds are available.
