Technology in Schools: Changing Teaching and Learning

Mike Smith, Superintendent of the Forney Independent School District in Forney Texas, had a shortage of textbooks due to the rapid growth of the his school district and the time lapse between the number of textbooks that can be ordered based on the previous year’s enrollment and current enrollments. It has caused a significant period of time to elapse with a percentage of students left without textbooks. To solve this problem Smith’s school district combined the advantages of the wireless laptop with the adoption of e-book. The first group of students to benefit was the fifth and sixth graders at Johnson Elementary School. Each one received an IBM ThinkPad loaded with digital versions of textbooks and other works of literature. Smith stated, “ThinkPad made learning more exciting for the students, motivated the students to learn, and solved the lack of textbooks, it’s a system we need to explore. These are digital kids, use to multitasking and accustomed to the electronic world.” Garton, N (2003).

Garton, N (2003). Students turn on their computers to read classics. Retrieved April 23, 2009, from www.tennessean.com/edicatopm/arcjoves/03/07/35886253.shtml

Laptops replace textbooks at Johnson Elementary School. (2004). Retrieved April 26, 2009, from http://fprmeu/edmet10.net//prod_site/announcement_announcementelectronictext.