Laptops in the Classroom

(picture from TeacherTube)

What is the tool? Laptops

How can laptops be used in the classroom?
Laptops can be used in the classroom for several reasons. If it is a mathematics classroom, laptops can be used for programs such as Maple or Scientific Notebook that are used to solve math problems. If it is a literature or English classroom, laptops can be used for typing, making documents, or even researching for papers. Students can use laptops in the classroom to make blogs and have discussions that can be carried on outside the classroom. Students can take online tests as assessments as well. Laptops are a great resource that can be used in any classroom for research or project-based learning.

What are some advantages and disadvantages of using laptops?
Some advantages of using laptops in the classroom include keeping students engaged in learning, having vast amounts of resources available in seconds for students learning, as well as creating a technology enriched learning environment for students.
Students today are very interested in computers. Technology is what students spend most of their time on outside of school, so if teachers are able to bring things such as laptops into the classrooms students will be more engaged in their assignments. Laptops can also create a vast amount of information and resources at the touch of a button. When using a laptop to search for information, it is much easier than carrying around stacks of books. Using a laptop for research is also more efficient because it can present new information while books are never updated, and usually school libraries have older editions. It is very important to create a good learning environment for students, and incorporating laptops into this environment could be a great asset. Technology is only going to increase, and helping students learn to do work on laptops could increase their skill levels for the world outside of school. Seeing as technology is a part of classroom standards, it is an important things for students to be introduced to the many things they can produce from laptops.

Some disadvantages of using laptops in the classroom include having students off task on game sites or other sites that are not allowed in school, and the cost in repairing laptops if they are loaned out to students.
Laptops create an opportunity for great learning experiences, but it can also create an opportunity for students to find other things to distract them. Students can find themselves on game sites or other sites such as Myspace or Facebook that are not allowed by most schools. When students get off task it is hard to get them back to their work. If the school loans these laptops to students for home use, it can be very costly to make repairs to the ones that are damaged from students transporting them around.

Who is the audience for this tool? teachers, administrators, school boards, and parents

You can learn more about laptops in the classroom at the following websites:
Multimedia in the Classroom
How laptops have been successfully used in the classroom
Tips for using Laptops in the K-12 Classroom

In my opinion, the usefulness of laptops in the classroom includes:

• keeping students involved in the activities and increasing their willingness to learn
• allowing creativity in student work and presentations
• creating a technology-enhanced learning environment that allows students to gain more skills with technology
• opportunities for students to explore many places while staying at school as well as allowing students to have access to up-to-date information at the touch of a button