Journal+Review

**Journal Review:** **From doing this journal review, I came across this very interesting article about new technology in schools. The article brought to light the hard facts about implementing technology, such as laptops and iPads, into the school systems. It is very easy to get excited about new technology and want to put it to good use in the schools. However, sometimes many people lose sight of the upkeep or technical difficulties that may arise from introducing such technology. Doing this journal review has reminded me that there is always bad that comes with the good. As a teacher, I need to be prepared and willing to use technology in the classroom, and be mindful of the possible technical difficulties that may arise.**

Farmington Municipal school district in New Mexico started a laptop program about three years ago. The Farmington Learning Initiative provides middle and high school students with free laptops which they can use until they graduate high school. The district conducted a survey before the initiative started and found that around forty percent of students had not had access to a personal home computer. While the initiative has narrowed the technology gap in student homes to about twenty-five percent, maintaining the laptops are proving costly. Running the program itself costs taxpayers about $2 million, but repairs are racking up $150,000 in unpaid fines. The district is implementing a $35 laptop insurance premium to keep fines lower, but students and their parents are still left with a $100 deductible for expensive repairs. If a student’s principal deems the repair due to negligence, students and parents are left to pay the entire repair bill. Heights Middle School has a lower damage rate than other district schools which is thought to be attributed to higher classroom use. Jenny Kane believes that if students are using their laptops more in the classroom and have grades that are dependent on laptop work then students will take care of their laptop more cautiously. Personally, I understand why this school district is working to narrow the technology gap in their area, but I believe that they are being too generous with precious resources. If I were a district official, I would make available laptops and important resources, but in a library system fashion. In other words, to integrate technology in the classroom, I would have a laptop cart in each classroom. This way teachers and students can work on lessons and assignments while at school. After school, if students have the need or desire to “check-out” a computer they would be able to do so in an accountable fashion. Having laptops dispersed through a need-based system would hopefully reduce the number of careless, unwarranted damage to school property.
 * Journal Review #1: “Maintaining High-Tech Comes at High Price for Schools”**
 * Source:** Kane, Jenny. “Maintaining High-Tech Comes at High Price for Schools.” __The Daily Times__. []. 29 Aug. 2011