One to One!
Junior high students receive laptop computers
by Chris Kleidosty
January 16, 2007
During a regular board meeting on December 12, 2006, the USD 481 board of education voted 6-0 to approve the purchase of 109 laptop computers to support learning for all junior high students. Parents and students will be initially oriented with machine care and use during January. Due to the timing and need for technology by all students, technology fees will be reassessed for next school year.
Technology Plan
This purchase will complete phase two of a five phased plan adopted by the district's new technology plan that was adopted in the FY 2006. Phase I of the technology plan, which replaced teacher workstations with laptop computers, was executed with existing funds in FY 2006. Phase II calls for junior high laptops in FY 2007 due to teacher readiness and preparation. Phases III and IV will involve a laptop initiative at the high school level in FY 2008 and lap top carts at the elementary school level in FY 2009 respectively.
The underlying mechanism for the addition of technology is to teach kids how to access and apply unlimited information anytime, anywhere. This is commonly known as Information Literacy. Included below is a vision of how roles and relationships will be changed with access to information anytime, anywhere:
| 19th Century | 21st Century |
| Assembly line instruction | Individual instruction |
| Local economy, job competition | Global economy, job competition |
| Learning for all | Learning for individuals |
| Teacher as a provider | Teacher as a facilitator |
| Teacher centered learning | Student centered learning |
| Lesson plans | Individualized learning plans |
| Learning based on textbooks, lesson plans | Learning based on data, standards, careers, etc. |
| Finite knowledge base | Infinite knowledge base |
| Groups (one person leads) | Teams (defined roles, responsibilities, etc.) |
| Collaboration in classrooms | Collaboration anytime, anywhere |
| Reading, writing, arithmetic | Rigor, relevance, relationships |
Technology Budget
Annual Costs:
| Phase/Year | Equipment | Cost |
| I / FY 2006 | Teacher Laptops/Network Upgrades | $105,000 |
| II / FY 2007 | Junior High Laptops | $100,000 |
| III / FY 2008 | High School Laptops | $150,000 |
| IV / FY 2009 | Elementary Laptop Carts | $75,000 |
| V / FY 2010 | Elementary Laptop Carts | $75,000** |
**Year 5 could be reduced (combined with year 4) if technology becomes too dated
Annual Funding:
| Federal | $35,000 |
| Capital Outlay | $70-100,000 |
| Vocational | $12,500*** |
| Technology Fee | $10,000 |
| Other sources (local budget, grants, etc.) | $0-20,000**** |
| Annual Revenue | $127,500-182,500 |
***Vocational money covers the costs of computers ordinarily
purchased for labs.
****Other sources would be necessary if any of the above funds are cut AND/OR if the district wanted to decrease the computer cycle to 4 years.
From a more practical and immediate standpoint of technology needs, No Child Left Behind has increased the number of times students are tested and such tests are web-based. Every student in grades 3-8 and a high school grade must take a math and reading tested administered by the state of Kansas each year. Beginning next year, these same students will also be tested in science. Additionally, students in grades 5, 8 and 11 are tested in writing and social studies in alternating years. Students in grades K-11 also participate twice a year on MAP (Measures of Academic Performance), a computer adaptive test which measures student growth in reading and math. Not only does the test measure growth, it provides comparative data and generates individualized learning plans tailored specifically for the student. This additional test is also mandated by the state for school improvement purposes.
