Netbooks: A Cost Effective Digital Learning Solution
by Neil Hokanson, Educational Technology Director
During the fall of 2008, the
North Platte Public School Technology Department began to evaluate
netbooks as a digital device solution. Netbooks are small laptop
computers (with 10 inch screens) that have all the computing power
of a regular laptop without a DVD or CD drive. The cost is roughly
1/3 that of a regular laptop and much cheaper than a desktop
computer. Best of all the devices are portable opening up use
anywhere, anytime. Pilot projects were tried in the North Platte
High School Science Department and at Adams Middle School to see
how the devices held up and met the needs of teachers and
students.
In the spring it was determined, from building level technology
plans developed by teaching staff and administrators, that a
netbook would be a priority solution to increasing the number of
digital devices throughout the school district. Plans were made to
identify the number of devices that the district could purchase
within the parameters of the technology budget, along with
identifying stimulus funding as an additional source, to get
devices in the hands of students. Three deployments were developed
and the technology department has been facilitating that process
since the summer months.
The first deployment brought 150 HP
mini devices to Madison Middle School in August. Staff and
especially students have been using these learning tools in a
variety of ways to provide students new methods and experiences in
practice, research, notes, developing presentations, creating art,
for communication via email, creating brochures, and photo editing.
Furthermore, the initial deployment at Madison has enabled the
sharing of a wealth of information concerning the deployment,
maintenance, use, and overall value of netbook computing that now
spans many schools in the district and benefits other schools as
netbooks are deployed elsewhere.
After the Madison deployment, and following budget approval in
September 2009 and a meeting with the school board technology
subcommittee, the second deployment was started and has been
recently completed. 300 netbooks were placed in North Platte High
School, 150 at Adams Middle School, and 30 each were deployed to
Eisenhower, Hall, Lake, and Osgood elementary schools. Older
computers from the high school were redeployed to McDonald,
Washington, Eisenhower, Hall, and Osgood to provide equity with a
thin client classroom solution that was done in most of the other
elementary schools last school year. Since the middle of December
2009, including existing digital devices (laptops and desktops),
computing has gone from as much as 12:1 to at least 3:1 digital
devices per student in many schools.
The third deployment is well under way and will bring 120 netbooks
to Jefferson, 90 each to Lincoln, Washington, and Cody, and 60 of
the devices will arrive at Buffalo in the coming weeks. By the end
of the 2009-2010 school year there will be at least 3:1 computing,
with Web 2.0 capable devices in every school in the district.
Schools that are at 3:1 will be identified as "next in line" to
receive any new devices in the future and a replacement cycle is
now in place to keep digital devices updated and renewed over the
coming years.
Netbooks have facilitated a cost effective solution for the North
Platte Public Schools in getting as many updated digital devices in
the hands of students that we can in an equitable, wise, and
fiscally responsible manner. Along with an updated network and
server backbone over the past couple of years, teachers and
students are reaping the rewards of 21st Century digital learning
right now in the North Platte Public Schools, and the future will
build upon the use of these devices to increase learning,
facilitate collaboration, break down walls by opening up
connections to others outside the classroom, and by developing a
thinking culture that will prepare our students to be successful in
an ever changing world and global economy.
Click the following link to view the netbooks in use!!!
