Florida Panel Recommends Laptop Initiative
A panel of educators from across Florida has recommended that the state pursue a one-to-one laptop program for students. Convened by a state legislator, the 15 educators studied laptop initiatives across the country, and also examined the level of infrastructure currently in place in Florida before deciding that the model can be effective, and that the state can handle the task.
Chaired by Dr. Tina Barrios, supervisor for instructional technology for Manatee County schools, the panel felt the time was right for such a program. However, it has to be done correctly. In making the announcement, Dr. Barrios said this:
“We tried to take the best of the best, because certainly some of the laptop initiatives were not as successful. In some cases, what they did was find a pot of money and dumped the laptops in the schools but they didn’t have the infrastructure to support it, they didn’t have professional development, they didn’t have buy in from the staff and they didn’t have a good implementation plan.”
I’d say that pretty well says it all. The entire article is at www.bradenton.com/mld/bradenton/news/local/8417454.htm.