Date: Fri 24-Jul-1998

Publication: Bee

Author: MICHEL

Quick Words:

schools-technology-laptops

Full Text:

Educators Defend Laptops For Teachers At Head O'Meadow

BY MICHELE HOGAN

One small part of the ambitious $800,000 technological upgrade currently under

way in the Newtown school system has drawn advocates and critics into a

discussion of whether all of the money is being spent wisely. At issue is a

plan to provide the teachers at Head O'Meadow School with their own laptop

computers at public expense.

Bill Bircher, principal at Head O' Meadow School, said that the $67,170 that

the Board of Education is spending on 25 laptops for use by HOM teachers is "a

price of doing business." Melissa Pilchard, a member of the finance committee

of the Legislative Council, disagrees.

Mrs Pilchard considers this an ineffective use of taxpayers money. She said

"If teachers are interested in computers, they are going to already have a

computer." Why buy another?

Bill Bircher, principal at Head O' Meadow School, said that he didn't know how

many of his teachers already had computers at home but said that each of his

25 teachers would be assigned a new Apple Powerbook computer. This would work

out to a cost of $2,680 per laptop.

Kenneth Lerman, a computer consultant for Nynex, SNET and IBM and a Newtown

resident, said that for the three applications the school is planning for the

computers "they are spending $1,000 more than they have to on each laptop. If

they bought 25 desktops instead of laptops, they would be around $700-$800

each." That would save about $48,000 and still provide computers capable of

doing the job they want done. He also commented that laptops are more easily

stolen.

Henryk Michnowicz, head of technology for Newtown District, considers the

laptops worthwhile because he thinks laptops offer more opportunity for

utilization, day and evening. He also thinks that laptops will encourage

teachers to use technology, so that they can teach it.

He said "for a minimum investment in technology, you'll have [teachers]

comfortable with technology."

If laptops are beneficial for teachers, why will they not be assigned to

teachers in other schools?

Amy Dent, chairman of the Board of Education, supported the idea of doing

research and development in one school first. She approves of starting "a

pilot program."

Mr Bircher said that "we don't have petty jealousies -- teachers saying `why

are they getting them and not us?'"

Mrs Pilchard suggested a more cost-effective use of laptops would be to put

four or five in each school. Teachers in each school could take them home,

borrowing them overnight or for the weekend.

Middle Gate School does this with older, laptop-size word-processors.

Teachers Need Laptops

The Newtown District Technology Plan, which forms the guidelines for

technology in the Newtown schools, recommends, "A good rule of thumb is not to

purchase anything until there is a demonstrated need."

In the recent special meeting of the Board of Education, board members and

adminstrators described the three reasons why HOM teachers needed laptops. Mrs

Pilchard was contacted after the meeting for her comments.

Amy Dent, Chairman of the Board of Education, described one of the three goals

of the laptops as "bringing teachers up-to-speed on software."

Mr Bircher said, "We are asking teachers to teach technology. Now we are

giving our people the tools to make that goal a reality."

Assistant Superitendent of School Robert Kuklis said that laptops would

provide teachers with more opportunity to practice software programs, thereby

reducing the need for retraining.

Mrs Pilchard suggested that more reasonably priced desktop computers set up in

a staff room could be a cost-effective way for teachers to learn programs. A

new user might prefer being near colleagues who could help out with the

computer rather than being left to work at home with a laptop.

Mr Bircher explained that staff room computers would not be as effective

because "we do not have the time in the school day or after school to teach

and learn computers. Everyone has different deficiencies."

Mrs Pilchard said she would favor any reasonable program to make computers

more affordable for teachers, but "every dramatic change in technology does

not mean we have to give everybody a take-home."

Mrs Pilchard went on to say that "Every stenographer had to learn how to use a

typewriter. But did you ever hear of an employer giving them their own to take

home, even though it would mean they might become more proficient? Taxpayers

are already bearing a huge burden for the cost of technology."

Access to Tests

A second goal presented in the technology meeting by Amy Dent was giving

teachers easy access to student records.

Mr Bircher said that he has the curriculum standards and HOM student permanent

records on the school's network server. He said that teachers would be able to

access student records from home, and that they would access student records

by using a password.

Mr Lerman expressed concerns about student privacy within a widely used

password access system.

Yet the Board of Education showed strong approval for Mr Bircher's initiative

in technology. Charles Nanavaty, a Board of Education member, called the plan

"extremely proactive." Mrs Dent is appreciative that "Bill and his staff are

interested in technology."

Mr Bircher entered the test scores himself (CMT, degrees of reading power,

writing prompt scores, math scores, etc) onto File Manager Pro (a database

program) in his spare time. He said that next year a secretary would be

updating the computer files.

Mrs Dent explained a benefit of the database. She said that if a teacher had

an idea for why a child was having difficulty learning, the teacher could

quickly check the records on the laptop, and see if the tests scores supported

his or her idea. Otherwise, according to Mrs Dent, the busy teacher will say

"I will get to it. I will get to it. If they have a laptop, it's easier."

Mr Lerman, who was contacted after the meeting, wondered how many sheets of

paper a class list of test scores could possibly take. He questioned why a

teacher couldn't keep a copy at home, for reference.

Mrs Pilchard said that "There is no reason, in my opinion, why a teacher who

wanted to know what Johnnie's test scores were, couldn't go to a central

computer or printed copy to find out." She explained that it may even do

Johnnie a disservice to have his test scores available at the touch of a key.

If he scored poorly because he was feeling sick the day of the test, or

doesn't test well, it could lead to teachers having lower expectations for

him. Low expectations have a negative effect on learning.

Mrs Pilchard, who used to teach in Maryland, said that if you are looking for

patterns in learning, whenever available, you should refer to the actual

tests, not compiled test scores. By reviewing the questions the child got

wrong, one can find patterns in the child's errors and understand what they

need to learn.

Lesson Plans

According to Mr Bircher, a third use of the laptops will be for teachers'

preparing lesson plans.

Mrs Pilchard commented that someone who lacks proficiency in keyboarding is

going to find it easier to prepare lesson plans with pen and paper, and is not

likely to switch to the laptop for this. Also, she said, there is a problem

when you get in the classroom. She said "as soon as you open a laptop to give

a lesson, your attention shifts from the kids to the laptop. The kids'

attention shifts from the lesson to the laptop. The laptop is something new,

and kids love them. But it's a distraction."

She also said, "What about back-up? What if something goes wrong with your

laptop, with all your lesson plans on it?"

Mrs Pilchard said that computers have so many applications beyond these three

limited ones. She said that computers are becoming increasingly important in

almost every facet of our lives, and she supports well-thought out

expenditures for technology in the schools.

$800,000 for Technology

These laptops are part of the approximately $800,000 worth of equipment to be

leased over the next two years.

John Torok, business manager, said that "the plan is to implement everything

as it stands there" [indicating the technology list]. He conceded that prices

have dropped substantially since the list was drawn up but he had no

contingency for returning unspent money. Instead, after the purchases are

made, he said that any remaining money would stay in the technology fund until

it is spent on additional equipment.

A major item is a foreign language lab at the high school. For $99,000 this

year and an estimated $50,000 for next year a teacher will be able to, among

other things, group specific students together to practice a language.

Students will be able to interact with recordings of native speakers, and the

teacher can enter any student conversation at will.

Mrs Pilchard said that in a meeting this spring, Dr Reed, the schools'

superintendent, had asked where else this language lab was in use. She said

the response was that there wasn't one up and running anywhere around here.

Mrs Pilchard believes it is better not to be the guinea pig.

The council member questioned, "What happened to students talking in small

groups, with a teacher circulating? And for native speakers, you just have to

go to Danbury. Over 20 native languages are represented that close by. People

are willing to volunteer their expertise if you go and ask them."

All of the 155 computer systems on the list are Apple products.

Newtown District Board of Education and Legislative Council have agreed to the

arrangement of a municipal lease for $800,000 for technology over the next two

years. Interest costs over the four year lease period are expected to bring

the total to $905,000 to $908,000. The Board of Education approved the lease,

with a cap of $925,000 for the cost of the lease.