Laptops In Elementary Education

By Emily Bergman

What do you want to learn about?Click one to explore.

• Laptops assisting the 4th grade slump?• Laptops improving upper elementary math sco

res?• Laptops developing literacy and research skills

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Laptops and Fourth-Grade Literacy:Assisting the Jump over the Fourth-Grade

Slump

http://www.eric.ed.gov/ERICWebPortal/Home.portal?_nfpb=true&ERICExtSearch_SearchValue_0=laptops+in+elementary+schools&searchtype=basic&ERICExtSearch_SearchType_0=kw&_pageLabel=RecordDetails&objectId=0900019b803f9979&accno=EJ873679&_nfls=false

This particular issue of the Journal of Technology, Learning, and Assessment presents evidence on the 1:1 (one laptop per one child in a classroom) success

on improving 4th graders literacy skills based on a research study.

Laptops and Fourth-Grade Literacy Continued

The study consisted of fourth and fifth graders over a 3 year period. The significant positive effects of laptop use

began to become apparent in the second year of the study. The first year consisted of the teachers and

students learning how to function in a 1:1 classroom. After the first year teachers were more prepared to focus on teaching rather than the laptops. This is also apparent in other laptop studies as well. However, this particular

study concluded that laptops are not the magic answer to improving standardized test scores, but they may have an

influence on improving such test results.

This was a great journal to read. It really shows that laptops can improve the literacy skills of elementary students when

used regularly. It is a shame that more teachers and schools cannot be granted the opportunity to use laptops throughout daily lessons on a

normal basis.

I Believe…

Wireless Laptops in Upper Elementary Mathematics

http://www.eric.ed.gov/ERICWebPortal/Home.portal?_nfpb=true&ERICExtSearch_SearchValue_0=laptops+in+elementary+schools&searchtype=basic&ERICExtSearch_SearchType_0=kw&_pageLabel=RecordDetails&objectId=0900019b80394dab&accno=EJ826625&_nfls=false

This Journal consisted of research from a study concerning three 6th grade math classrooms who use 1:1 laptops and seven non-laptop math classrooms.

Wireless Laptops in Upper Elementary Mathematics Continued

This study researched classrooms who maintained regular math lessons compared to classrooms who used CompassLearning, a software program, via the internet to provide arithmetic class. In the laptop class, students were allowed to move at their own pace and were responsible for their own learning. Teachers were given more time; therefore, gave each students more individual attention. Research showed that laptop users outscored nonlaptop users considerably in Quarterly Benchmark exams.

I Believe…

This study proved the CompassLearning software enhanced the students grades. This really sparked my interest due to the fact I have never had positive results when using math programs online. I feel as though math should be taught in a classroom. Although through the program students had the opportunity to work at their own pace, they were not taught by a teacher personally. I was shocked to see the results were positive towards the laptop math program.

Information Literacy in the Laptop Classroom

This abstract discusses the difficulty teachers have in integrating shared computers into lessons. Therefore, some schools have created 1:1 laptop programs.

http://proquest.umi.com.proxy.ulib.iupui.edu/pqdweb?index=8&did=1473898251&SrchMode=1&sid=1&Fmt=2&VInst=PROD&VType=PQD&RQT=309&VName=PQD&TS=1276805938&clientId=13225

Information Literacy in the Laptop Classroom Continued

This study proved that all students in the laptop schools and classrooms learned to access information and use it in their written and multimedia products. However, analyzing it for the understanding of production was different from school to school. Research concluded that a 1:1 classroom improved literacy and research skills, but other issues influenced the outcome as well.

I Believe…

This was an interesting journal to read. It showed that laptops can help improve research and literacy skills, but reminded everyone that laptops are not the only answer. I think laptops are very good tools for a quality education; however, I believe pencils and paper to be an excellence form of teaching as well. Students should learn how to use technology, but they need interaction time in a classroom setting with teachers and students too. Laptops are great as long as they do not take away the classroom setting in the future.

In Conclusion…These three journals really proved just how

great laptops are. They can improve the quality of learning in elementary schools. It is very unfortunate that these computers are too

expensive for most schools to provide a 1:1 laptop atmosphere. These journals were very interesting to read and provoked my thinking

about laptop use in schools.

Works Cited

Suhr, K.A., Hernandez, D.A., Grimes, D., & Warschauer, M. (2010). Laptops and Fourth-Grade Literacy: Assisting the Jump over the Fourth-Grade Slump. Journal of Technology, Learning, and Assessment, 9(5). Retrieved 17 Jun. 2010.

Warschauer, Mark. "Information Literacy in the Laptop Classroom. " Teachers College Record 109.11 (2007): 2511. Research Library, ProQuest. Web. 17 Jun. 2010.

Clariana, Roy. (2009). Ubiquitous Wireless Laptops in upper Elementary Mathematics. Journal of Computers in Mathematics and Science Teaching. Retrieved 17 Jun. 2010 .

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