Watertown High School a leader in laptop learning
Posted: Sunday, January 15, 2006
WATERTOWN, S.D. (AP) -- It's all computers all the time at Watertown High School, where laptops have joined backpacks as a staple for students who already live in a world of video games, instant messaging and iTunes.
In hallways, classrooms and even the parking lot, the more than 1,200 students in grades 9-12 can grab their school-issued laptops, log onto the district's wireless network and get working on assignments.
Laptop learning offers broad appeal as educators constantly search for ideas that will keep students in school and engaged in their classes, said principal Brian Field. High schools can't afford to keep doing things the way they always have, he said.
"The laptops allow our teachers and students to engage in 21st century learning skills, including research and communication, critical thinking and problem solving, and self direction and self discipline," said Field.
While other districts offer laptops to students, few have programs as extensive as the 3-year-old initiative in Watertown, state education officials say.
The WHS program could serve as a model as the Legislature considers Gov. Mike Rounds' plan to put laptops into the hands of more South Dakota students.
The governor wants to use $13 million in state funds to help districts buy or lease laptop computers for high school students. Schools would provide $2 for every $1 provided by the state.
Districts would not have to participate, but the goal is to have a pilot program in place by fall.
Watertown students get their laptops when classes start in the fall and can keep them for the school year. That includes nights, weekends and holidays. During the summer the machines are returned for cleaning and maintenance.
School policies, agreed to by parents and students, set out appropriate use of the laptops and Internet. Those who break the rules face disciplinary action.
Amy Blaedorn, 18, said laptops give students a way to instantly check out a Web site or look up other information tied to a teacher's lecture. "And we don't have to carry around so many books."
Watertown High School students have had access to computers for years.
Before the laptops, students worked in the school's computer lab. With so many classes and students waiting for the machines, they often didn't have enough time to get their work done, Field said.
Steve O'Brien, an English teacher, likes what laptops have added to the classroom.
"Kids have access to everything," said O'Brien. They can download articles from the American Medical Association or read periodicals that only can be found major libraries.
"We don't have access to that anywhere in Watertown that I know of. But now, they do," O'Brien said.
The laptops also give students skills they will need in college and on the job, said Brad Brandsrud, assistant principal.
While some students don't go much beyond word processing, others are constantly figuring out new ways to dress up the presentation of their homework, he said.
"Rather than turning in the research paper that has the footnotes and citations to it, they're creating a bibliography of video resources," he said.
One unexpected benefit has been laptop use by the students' families, Brandsrud said.
Students can log onto the school network to surf the Internet from home as long as they follow school policy. Or they can bring the laptops along in the car to play a DVD on a family trip.
"It's just a really valuable tool," said Brandsrud.
Students say they'd feel lost without their laptops.
About the only complaints are the security measures and school rules that prevent them from going to certain Web sites, visiting chat rooms or downloading files the school considers inappropriate.
But students say they can e-mail their friends and can gain broader Internet use if they keep up their grades.
"It would seem a little odd without it," Ellie Fishman, 16, a WHS junior, said as she cradled a laptop on a break between classes. They make it easy to check an assignment with a teacher or get caught up on missed work, she said.
Some state lawmakers and school administrators worry the governor's laptop plan would cost too much.
The WHS program's total cost was $2.2 million, said Field. The district leases the laptops and is making annual payments of $506,000 over four years, an expense that includes the laptops, software and an extended protection plan, he said.
Teachers and students in Watertown are lucky administrators found a way to pay for the laptop program, said O'Brien. But the governor's proposal might not be workable for all schools because of the cost, he said.
A recent school funding study showed tremendous financial need among South Dakota schools, said O'Brien. Across the state, teachers and administrators are talking about shorter school weeks, packing more students into classrooms and other ways to cut education spending.
"Computers aren't going to fix any of those problems and those are the problems we have," he said.
Despite the obstacles, Rounds and state education officials think laptops are the right direction for South Dakota schools.
Technology needs to be part of any discussion about education's future, said state education secretary Rick Melmer, who was superintendent at Watertown when planning started for the laptop program.
Students today are surrounded by computers, Melmer said in outlining the laptop program during a recent announcement of Rounds' 2010 Education Initiative.
"But they still can't take them home and teachers can't count on them for being a learning tool 24 hours a day, seven days a week," he said.
"Until we get to that part, teaching and learning will not be impacted to any great degree. That's why this initiative is there and that's why we believe it's important."
In hallways, classrooms and even the parking lot, the more than 1,200 students in grades 9-12 can grab their school-issued laptops, log onto the district's wireless network and get working on assignments.
Laptop learning offers broad appeal as educators constantly search for ideas that will keep students in school and engaged in their classes, said principal Brian Field. High schools can't afford to keep doing things the way they always have, he said.
"The laptops allow our teachers and students to engage in 21st century learning skills, including research and communication, critical thinking and problem solving, and self direction and self discipline," said Field.
While other districts offer laptops to students, few have programs as extensive as the 3-year-old initiative in Watertown, state education officials say.
The WHS program could serve as a model as the Legislature considers Gov. Mike Rounds' plan to put laptops into the hands of more South Dakota students.
The governor wants to use $13 million in state funds to help districts buy or lease laptop computers for high school students. Schools would provide $2 for every $1 provided by the state.
Districts would not have to participate, but the goal is to have a pilot program in place by fall.
Watertown students get their laptops when classes start in the fall and can keep them for the school year. That includes nights, weekends and holidays. During the summer the machines are returned for cleaning and maintenance.
School policies, agreed to by parents and students, set out appropriate use of the laptops and Internet. Those who break the rules face disciplinary action.
Amy Blaedorn, 18, said laptops give students a way to instantly check out a Web site or look up other information tied to a teacher's lecture. "And we don't have to carry around so many books."
Watertown High School students have had access to computers for years.
Before the laptops, students worked in the school's computer lab. With so many classes and students waiting for the machines, they often didn't have enough time to get their work done, Field said.
Steve O'Brien, an English teacher, likes what laptops have added to the classroom.
"Kids have access to everything," said O'Brien. They can download articles from the American Medical Association or read periodicals that only can be found major libraries.
"We don't have access to that anywhere in Watertown that I know of. But now, they do," O'Brien said.
The laptops also give students skills they will need in college and on the job, said Brad Brandsrud, assistant principal.
While some students don't go much beyond word processing, others are constantly figuring out new ways to dress up the presentation of their homework, he said.
"Rather than turning in the research paper that has the footnotes and citations to it, they're creating a bibliography of video resources," he said.
One unexpected benefit has been laptop use by the students' families, Brandsrud said.
Students can log onto the school network to surf the Internet from home as long as they follow school policy. Or they can bring the laptops along in the car to play a DVD on a family trip.
"It's just a really valuable tool," said Brandsrud.
Students say they'd feel lost without their laptops.
About the only complaints are the security measures and school rules that prevent them from going to certain Web sites, visiting chat rooms or downloading files the school considers inappropriate.
But students say they can e-mail their friends and can gain broader Internet use if they keep up their grades.
"It would seem a little odd without it," Ellie Fishman, 16, a WHS junior, said as she cradled a laptop on a break between classes. They make it easy to check an assignment with a teacher or get caught up on missed work, she said.
Some state lawmakers and school administrators worry the governor's laptop plan would cost too much.
The WHS program's total cost was $2.2 million, said Field. The district leases the laptops and is making annual payments of $506,000 over four years, an expense that includes the laptops, software and an extended protection plan, he said.
Teachers and students in Watertown are lucky administrators found a way to pay for the laptop program, said O'Brien. But the governor's proposal might not be workable for all schools because of the cost, he said.
A recent school funding study showed tremendous financial need among South Dakota schools, said O'Brien. Across the state, teachers and administrators are talking about shorter school weeks, packing more students into classrooms and other ways to cut education spending.
"Computers aren't going to fix any of those problems and those are the problems we have," he said.
Despite the obstacles, Rounds and state education officials think laptops are the right direction for South Dakota schools.
Technology needs to be part of any discussion about education's future, said state education secretary Rick Melmer, who was superintendent at Watertown when planning started for the laptop program.
Students today are surrounded by computers, Melmer said in outlining the laptop program during a recent announcement of Rounds' 2010 Education Initiative.
"But they still can't take them home and teachers can't count on them for being a learning tool 24 hours a day, seven days a week," he said.
"Until we get to that part, teaching and learning will not be impacted to any great degree. That's why this initiative is there and that's why we believe it's important."
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