Despite school budget shortfalls, about half the high schools in Maine have opted to move forward this fall in helping the state expand a program to put a laptop computer in the hands of every student, while the other half explore ways to provide students with an economically viable technological alternative.
In 2002, under the leadership of then-Gov. Angus King, Maine became the first state to launch a 1-to-1 laptop program, called the , or MLTI, designed to equip every 7th and 8th grader with one of the portable computers. Now state education leaders are applying the lessons they鈥檝e learned from that program to expand the opportunity to high school students across Maine.
鈥淚 think we have a far greater understanding as to when technology can really impact positively what happens in the classroom,鈥� says Jeff Mao, the learning-technology policy director for the Maine Department of Education. 鈥淎s we hit the high schools, it isn鈥檛 necessarily different.鈥�
But while the goals of the program may be the same for both high schools and middle schools, one major change is the amount of funding schools receive for participating. Through the middle school program, schools receive money for software, hardware, network infrastructure, warranties, technical support, professional development, and data-backup services.
But high schools will only receive money for the wireless-network infrastructure that is installed by the state to support the laptops. They are responsible for paying all other costs associated with the program.
As a result, only about half the high schools will be able to take part in the first year of the program expansion, but that share does not discourage Mao.
鈥淚n tough economic times, 50 percent of the high schools in Maine have allocated and dedicated the funds to advance this program, which I think speaks volumes,鈥� he says.
Equity and Access Issues
Bette Manchester, the executive director of the Maine International Center for Digital Learning, in Portland, and a former director of MLTI, says the change in funding levels raises concerns, however.
鈥淚 think we鈥檝e been fortunate to be able to move forward, but I think the notion of equity and access still needs to be at the forefront,鈥� she says. 鈥淔rom the beginning, the whole program was based on equity and access, and now that equity is not across the state. There are clearly students who do not haveaccess.鈥�
In response to the economic challenges presented by the state program, Sharon Betts, the educational technology coordinator for the Maine School Administrative District 52, and several other ed-tech coordinators from schools across the state have created a grassroots consortium to identify cost-effective alternatives to the state-led laptop program.
For many schools, 鈥渢hose funds just aren鈥檛 there,鈥� she says.
Instead of ordering laptops for each student鈥攖he state program provides each student with a MacBook鈥攖he group decided to go with a more affordable alternative: 10-inch Asus netbooks that support either a Windows or Linux operating system. Currently, about 3,000 units have been ordered.
The consortium was able to negotiate a price of $289 for each netbook, with a one-year warranty, or $438 for a unit with a three-year warranty.
Schools participating in the state-led program will pay $242 per laptop per year for four years, bringing the total cost of the laptop to $968.
But the consortium is not aiming to compete with the statewide program, says Betts.
Lessons Learned
In fact, in setting the goals for the consortium, members examined the strengths of MLTI, such as its emphasis on ongoing, embedded professional development, Betts says.
鈥淚t鈥檚 very, very important that teachers don鈥檛 feel like they鈥檙e being thrown this piece of equipment,鈥� she says.
Providing adequate training for teachers has always been an integral piece of Maine鈥檚 1-to-1 laptop program, says Susan A. Gendron, the state education commissioner.
Strong leadership and a shared vision have also set Maine鈥檚 program apart from other state and local 1-to-1 laptop initiatives, says Leslie Wilson, the president of the Lansing, Mich.-based One-to-One Institute, a nonprofit organization designed to support such computing programs.
鈥楢n Educational Venture鈥�
Chris Toy, a former principal of Freeport Middle School in Maine, says the decision to provide the same software and hardware for all participants in the MLTI program from the same vendor was an advantage for students, teachers, and support-staff members.
鈥淵ou鈥檙e able to troubleshoot easier because everyone is working from the same starting point,鈥� he says.
Consistent and timely technical support is a high priority, adds Mao, from the state department of education. For that reason, the state keeps extra laptop computers on hand for students to borrow if their machines are being repaired.
Kern A. Kelley, the director of educational technology for Regional School Unit 19, points out that partof what has made MLTI successful is its alignment of technology with educational goals.
鈥淚t is an educational venture, not a technical one. It is very easy to have the 鈥榯echies鈥� take over a project like this, but often they are not educators first,鈥� he says. 鈥淚 think if a state or district wanted to replicate MLTI, it is imperative that the tech people answer to the educational people.鈥�
Manchester, the former director of MLTI, agrees. 鈥淭he focus has been on pedagogical practices, use of effective content, and learning to use the tools,鈥� she says. 鈥淭his is not a technology project, it鈥檚 a learning project.鈥�
