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It is a proposed law that would allow up to 300 elementary schools in Illinois to receive grant funding for low-cost (under $400) laptops.
Support for professional development (teacher training), school infrastructure readiness and laptop repair are accounted for in the bill.
At least one-third of the selected schools must be from the City of Chicago; at least one-third from the collar counties, and at least one-third from the remainder of the state.
creativity and expression. They represent new outlets where art, music, and new ideas come to life).
learning outside the classroom walls.
Why (elementary school) children?
In a technology-rich world, we should not wait for high school to make our kids confident, competent computer users.
Training kids in responsible computer and internet use early on can deter misuse later in life.
Why low-cost?
Sub-$400 machines are equally as powerful for fundamental skills and computer literacy training as any $1,000+ machine.
We don't need to spend $500 or more per unit to give kids the chance to become computer savvy.
Children—especially young children—do not need to learn how to use really expensive software. Giving them an early start with low-cost laptops will make it easy for them to one day, if necessary, master really expensive equipment and software.
The bottom line is: in a world where money for education is limited, a low-cost mandate ensures that more children will benefit.
What kind of manufacturer sells computers for less than 400 bucks?
More than 20 computers are now available for under $400. See http://illinoisbroadbanddeployment.pbwiki.com/Low+Cost+Laptop+List
Why should the state pay to give Illinois elementary students substandard, inferior technology?
Inferior to what?! Low-cost laptops offer kids an infinite number of ways to write, read, solve problems, and express themselves creatively. With Internet access, these machines provide a worldwide library of information and communication; a gateway unbounded by the walls of a classroom. Indeed, low-cost laptops hold innovations in display, storage, processor speeds and software widely thought unimaginable just 5 or 10 years ago.
What about all the students without Internet access at home? Won't they suffer by comparison?
They already do. Plus, a kid who goes home with a laptop and no Internet access is still better off than a kid who goes home with no Internet access and no laptop.
Is there any precedent for large-scale low-cost laptop education projects?
Won't giving away all of these laptop kids make them more vulnerable to online predators?How will we control how these computers are used at student homes? How will we prevent them from the online scourges of gambling and pornography?
Like any learning tool, laptops can be misused. Parents, teachers and administrators will have the important job of helping kids make responsible decisions. This video provides just the kind of clear guidance we'll need to protect kids in the age of the Internet:
What benefit do the children derive from having a laptop?What evidence is there that providing students with a laptop is beneficial?Will purchasing laptops help increase student test scores?
"You need computer skills for better jobs, period. Kids who grow up in homes without computers aren't prepared for the demands of white collar jobs, medical jobs, and increasingly categories of blue-collar jobs." http://wifinetnews.com/archives/008241.html
Here are some links that demonstrate how 1-to1 laptop programs can improve student success:
Not if Illinois' existing laptop program is any guide. The vast majority of students who receive laptops provide them with great care and protection.
How will schools get good educational content on all these laptops?
Educational content is growing exponentially -- and literally by the second -- on the world wide web. Libraries and teachers are some of our best resources for helping students navigate the overwhelming volume of content online. Wonderful sources of online content for Illinois elementary students include:
Wikipedia for Schools is about the size of a 15-volume encyclopedia (24,000 images and 14 million words). The content can be navigated using a both picture- and word-based indexes.
How will schools protect all these laptops from theft?
Even among struggling schools, theft has not been a serious problem in the existing Illinois laptop program. Of the roughly 5,000 distributed, less than a dozen laptop thefts have been reported.
How will teachers learn how to use their laptops?
Professional development training for teachers is a requirement of the bill. Where schools do not have in-house staff to train teachers on how to integrate laptops in the classroom curriculum, grant funding will be available to hire professionals to train participating teachers. No teacher should or will have to feel unprepared to help their students make good use of their laptops.
Regional Technology Centers
The State of Illinois has network specialists strategically located throughout the
state to provide school network support services. For more info, please go to
The State of Illinois has technical staff that can provide professional development to teachers.
They offer workshops throughout the year for school staff members interested in technology
and learning.
The Illinois Math and Science Academy (IMSA)
The Center for the Advancement and Renewal of Learning and Teaching in
Mathematics, Science, and Technology at Illinois Mathematics and Science
Academy® (The Center @ IMSA) serves teachers and school systems through
professional development programs, and provides mathematics and science
enrichment programs for Illinois students.
For more info, please contact www.imsa.edu or 630.907.5000.
The Illinois State Board of Education offers school districts professional development training through its existing programs. Schools can request the topics they would like provided to their teachers.
For more info, please contact: Faith Bishop, 217.557.7323, fbishop@isbe.net.
What infrastructure is required to support every child having a laptop?
Mostly, schools will need adequate electrical outlets to recharge laptop batteries. Infrastructure costs have been considered in the drafting of the bill and are built into the State Board of Education's cost assessment for the Low-Cost Laptop pilot.
In addition to the price of the laptop itself, what are the other costs?
Laptop repairs and replacements, training for teachers in some cases, infrastructure (see above), and statewide project administration.
How will schools get technical support for all these laptops?
All of the low-cost laptop manufacturers offer technical support and will be expected to provide all of our participating schools with all the necessary assistance. Moreover, Illinois is a state rich with technical expertise in our schools, libraries, companies and homes. This project will call on the state to act as a community so we can build the brightest generation of computer users anywhere in the world.
Once the kids get the laptops, do the they own them for life? Will the laptops become property of the school or something else?
HB5000 empowers schools to make this decision. Schools may decide to take ownership of the laptops, or to make them the property of students.
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