Computers for Students

Today in the Birmingham News, there was an article about the students in Birmingham City receiving computers through a grant provided by the One Laptop Per Child Foundation. According to the article, each student will receive a laptop to use. Each laptop will cost $200. The remaining amount not spent on the actual computers will be spent on the training, upkeep and support. I think this is a great opportunity for the students of Birmingham City Schools. By having these computers, the students will have access to technology. I don't believe all students have internet access in the home, so they will be putting wireless internet in all schools. This is great for the students during school hours, but will it help with homework? I wonder if the "powers that be" have thought about the problems with theft, and vandalism? What happens if these problems pop up? Maybe since there will be so many computers around, no one will be interested in stealing them. As a teacher, I would love to have the opportunity to purchase a $200 computer for myself. Is there such a thing as One Laptop Per Teacher? I know I could keep up with my computer and take good care of it!

I want to vent about a problem I has making corrections on Blackboard a couple of nights ago. Early last week, I posted the affordance assignment. I posted a rough draft, knowing that I was going to change the looks when my peers commented on the contents. Before the 2nd deadline, I went in to clean it up and when I did, I deleted the original entry. I knew as soon as I did it that I had hit the wrong button, but of course, by then, it was gone. Now I have no proof that I posted the thing early, had comments and made the corrections. This is one major issue I have with technology. Sometimes you know just enough to be dangerous and you end up getting yourself into a big mess. Hopefully, my cohorts will back me up if there is a problem woth the grade, but I keep thinking, it would be so nice just to get the paper out of the trashcan and uncrumple it! I guess the studetns with the new computers in Birmihgham will get to use with the homework excuse, "I hit the wrong button and my homework is out there in cyberspace."