20,000 netbooks invade classrooms

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Austin Independent School District students will get a total of 20,000 netbook computers in a three-phase program that will allow students and teachers to stay in a classroom to do online work instead of meeting in computer labs or libraries.

The new teaching tools are part of AISD's "Computers on Wheels" program, paid for with funds from the 2008 Apple at Work Bond.

The netbooks, which are smaller than standard laptop computers, will be housed on mobile carts in units of 10, 20 or 30. The COW program is the first of three phases that will place approximately 20,000 netbooks on District campuses by spring break.

McCallum High School was the first campus scheduled to receive approximately 200 netbooks.

Chemistry teacher Elaine Bohls-Graham said the netbooks are a welcome resource for teachers who want to maximize time with the students.

“The addition of netbooks carts allows for more of the teachers to access the district's site-licensed programs, within most of our classrooms, rather than having to schedule time in the library or Gear-Up lab,” said Bohls-Graham. “Many of these site-licensed programs are for assessment, tutoring, researching or enrichment. Plus, it allows each student to have a computer from which to do research or to type up a report or paper, or to do computer-based assessments or testing. Assignments can be saved to students’ home folder, a shared folder or uploaded to a drop box site.

“Secondly, the smaller carts with 10 or 20 netbook units will provide students in science and math classes with another data-gathering tool,” said the chemistry teacher. “We can interface with district-supplied probeware. The data gathered can then be recorded, processed and analyzed with district-licensed statistical software. Students will also have the ability to print completed assignments and turn in hardcopies or submit their electronic documents to a teacher’s drop-box account.”

Bohls-Graham also noted that the addition of netbooks to schools resources will help students transition from the paper-based Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills tests, to computer-based end-of-course exams.

Additionally, while the district’s Instructional Technology staff assists school administrators with onsite formatting of the new devices, they will also conduct an inventory of the campus’ computers. Those identified as five years or older will be tagged and shipped to the district’s warehouse for recycling.