Berkshire Wirless Lap top Initiative: how's it going?

In this article a lap top initiative is reviewed at it's one year anniversary. Although after one year it isn't really possible to see achievement gains (that apparently will be assessed in the third year), there are some positive teacher and student reported effects.

From the article:

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Findings by evaluators who assessed the first stage of the Berkshire Wireless Learning Initiative:

* Teachers and students reported large increases in their use of technology in the classroom and across the curriculum.
* Teachers reported a substantial increase in their abilities to access technology resources.
* Teachers reported large increases in the ways and frequency with which they use technology.
* Teachers reported frequent participation and overall satisfaction with BWLI professional development offerings.
* Students reported an increase in their ability to use technology after five months of one-to-one computing.

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What do you think? I think that all of these are positive developments.... but, will the public go for findings like these after one year?

Jim :-)

Are you blocked in China? (cogdogblog)

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BTW... the edtechnot blog IS available in China. God help them.

Jim :-)

quetioning technology post

HI All,

Here is a post about a post about Interactive White Boards. I think it raises some good questions about one of the latest "gee whiz" ed tech products showing up in schols everywhere to almost universal applause.

My son's high school (with 2600 kid and only one sign out computer lab) is thinking about installing these in science clases. It sounds like an exciting opportunity, and s probably funded by a grant, but what about two or three more lap top carts? Wouldn't that open up better learning experiences for more clases?

What do you think? Maybe I need to learn more about IWBs?

Jim :-)