165135
submission
Parker51 writes:
Recently, there was a Slashdot story quoting a New York Times piece about the perceived failure of laptop programs in schools.
However, a locally written story in the Omaha World Herald reports very different experiences in Nebraska. It quotes both state and local education officials that acknowledge that while there have been some problems with accessing inappropriate sites and downloading unauthorized software, the experience has been positive overall. All of these officials state that they plan to support additional laptop programs in public schools in Nebraska. The story states that, "...any negative issues the computers create pale in comparison to their benefits: higher test scores, better-organized students and more contact between students and teachers." One teacher notes that, "It's quieter, we have fewer discipline problems, and kids are more accountable because there's no paper trail and they can't make excuses about losing their homework..."
To head off any potential geographic snobbery, or misunderstandings about Nebraska, among coastal Slashdotters, it should be noted the state (along with other midwestern states like Iowa) consistently ranks in the top-10 for student achievement, while also ranking in the bottom-20 for per-student costs. So, what is Nebraska doing right? Is it all that midwestern work-ethic and and reinforcement of positive personal values in the students? Or does it simply come down the fact, as another teacher noted, that, "It's how the teachers use those tools that makes the difference?"