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October 14, 2009

Pleasant Ridge Elementary children learning technology through laptop program

By TARA HETTINGER The News and Tribune Wed Oct 14, 2009, 11:51 PM EDT

As the one-to-one computer initiatives at Charlestown middle and high schools receive much attention, staff at Pleasant Ridge Elementary School are starting one as well.

Though the higher grades are using Apple brand computers, second-graders at Pleasant Ridge are using Dell Mini Netbooks, thanks to a $38,000 grant from the Indiana Department of Education, and Greater Clark County Schools pitching in $22,786.20, according to Principal Michelle Dyer and Marty Bell, chief operating officer for Greater Clark.

“This adds another dimension to their education,” Dyer said, adding that the grant is specific to second grade.

The computers — which are about 2 1/2 pounds each and have a screen about 10 inches wide — came in earlier this year and the 88 second-graders got to use them in class. Starting on Wednesday, they were allowed to take them home at no cost, Dyer said.

“We didn’t want to put an extra burden on their parents,” she said.

The middle and high schools are charging insurance fees for those who want to take them home in case units are lost, stolen or broken. Dyer said Pleasant Ridge is using the honesty policy, and those who break or lose theirs will become day users, utilizing one of the extras that were purchased for use only during the school day.

“We know they are 8-year-old children and some things will happen, but if you set the bar high enough, they’ll rise to it,” she said.

Avery Duncan, 7, is one of those students getting to take a computer home. He grinned as he played on his mini laptop alongside his classmates before taking it home for the first time that day.

“I’m going to take care of it and be nice to it and make sure it doesn’t get broken,” Duncan said, showing how he was taught to carry it with two hands and place it in his computer bag. “It’s a very special day. We get to take our laptops home.”

“I think it’s pretty cool, because we get to take them home and do our homework on them,” 8-year-old John Phipps said, adding that makes homework more fun. “Typing is harder [than writing] ... There’s a game that helps you type and we get a lot better every day.”

Even teachers are geared up for the additional technology.

“It was a shock at first, but I feel like it’s made me a better teacher,” second-grade teacher Sarah Lawrence said. “It’s reignited my love for teaching. I can see them understand it and they’re excited about it, so that makes me excited about it, too, and this [lesson in technology] is something they’ll use their whole life.”

Dyer said students get to practice math via games on the computer instead of flash cards, write sentences and other skills. The school also is set up with wireless Internet access, so students can surf the Web as part of lessons.

“I’m so excited and proud of these kids,” Dyer said. “Not only are they walking out with their backpacks on, they’re leaving with the classrooms of tomorrow on their backs.”

Dyer said each computer costs about $500, including the carrying case. She said there were parent meetings earlier this school year to prepare families and tell them the rules.

The district’s one-to-one computer policy — which dictates what are appropriate uses of computers, applies to these as well — Dyer added. Those who don’t comply will become day users, she added.