School-issued Laptops

Recently, my school issued every teacher a Dell laptop to be used for "educational" purposes. I never thought the day would come when schools would issue laptops to teachers, but it is really rather logical as teachers are constantly computing, entering grades and lesson plans.

Someday, maybe students will be issued laptops as well.

Laptops provide extra benefits for teachers including:

1. Freedom to move around one's classroom with the laptop, so teachers can stand next to that habitually disruptive student and deter his next disruptive behavior.

2. Convenience to carry the computer home to enter grades or lesson plans.

3. Ability to access wireless internet if your computer has an internal wireless card and if your school has a wireless network in place.

4. Ability to use the laptop at your podium while connected to your SMART board.

5. Lessons are more entertaining and engaging for students. It is much easier to be interactive using websites or software programs with students.

6. Students can use the laptop to project presentations on the SMART board.

Although there are many benefits to having a school-issued laptop, there are also a number of drawbacks.

1. Students are drawn to laptaps. Some will steal them. They can be easily concealed in bookbags. Teachers have to be extremely cautious when their laptops are in the classroom. Watching my laptop is just one more thing I have to be aware of each day. Although this sounds pretty simplistic, it becomes a major issue especially after a teacher's laptop is stolen.

2. Reliability of wireless network is a factor. Some days I am able to access the internet; other days I am not.

3. Teachers adjust to having a laptop. They become attached to them. Not all schools are able to provide teachers with this technology.