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• http://pulse.yahoo.com/_ZSBAAXFEXTIBDSRA5X3FA6TSG4 jersey

  Those laptops are a nuisance and a waste of education dollars. A computer lab would be just as efficient and much less expensive. In our school a quick look was done and it was determined that, at any given time, over half the students on their laptops were on facebook, music, video, etc (not related to education). 

• 525_44

  A teacher can use a program at school, to weed out those who are not doing what they should be on their laptop.

• Anonymous

  I couldn’t agree more with this assessment……right on

• Anonymous

  Lots of armchair experts here in the BDN comments.

  What do you do for a living again?

• Anonymous

  Gee, sounds like your schools need a better MLTI lab technician to setup a better filtering system so the children can focus on educational subjects (though there are some fantastic educational videos very much like educational TV that used to be used in classrooms when I was a child!).

• PBRman

   Write computer software.

  Laptops have their place.  An elementary school is not that place; in middle and high school there are uses for them, but education should not revolve around them.  There’s a fine line between using a computer as a tool to help you learn and not having to learn (understand) because you have a computer.

• Anonymous

  And the kids are smart enough to get around all those blocks (spoken as a parent of children with MLTI laptops).   They spend way more time playing games and Garage Band than using them for anything productive.  And they lug them back and forth out of habit even when they don’t need them at home.  They are an expensive nuisance.

• 525_44

  Ok. But as a parent of a teacher who is a techie, who knows what is going on in class at all times and diligent about it can bust anyone misusing the laptop while in class.
  Perhaps the misuse varies from school to school.

  I don’t think they are a nuisance, they are a part of education today.

• Anonymous

  As a parent of a student with a MLTI laptop, you can login as “Parent” and tell the laptop exactly what your child can and cannot do on the machine.  If you don’t want them on Facebook, you can block it.  If you don’t want them on Garage Band, you can disallow that application.  If you don’t want them on the laptop between 10 pm and 6 am, it’s easy to do.  If you’re unsure how, make sure you ask your school IT person and they will gladly show you.  Or, send them an email and they will do it for you.

• Anonymous

  There are kids at the conference right now playing video games and not paying attention…I know from someone who is there and is sitting next to a kid playing games….but then again, this individual is posting things to social media sites, so how much is this individual paying attention?

• Anonymous

  I have to disagree with you, they are not a waste.  I work in several school districts, and in each district, the computer labs have zero use.  The laptops are used almost every minute of the day.  Up until this year, Facebook was blocked statewide by the Bess Internet filtering system.  Now, each school has a new web filter of it’s own and can make their own choice to block Facebook or not.  If they haven’t and kids are being observed “over half the time” on Facebook, it can be easily blocked.

• Diogenes

   And they’ll never replace the horse! 

  Man, I guess every generation gets their share of grumpy people who resist changes that work. 

• Diogenes

   Here’s a thought: how about parenting?  Don’t just sit there watching your kid drift.  Get off the couch and get in their lives.  What else could be more important?

• Anonymous

  We no longer need to learn or retain anything. The one that is the fastest with the laptop, iphone, Twitter, blackberry etc will be the smartest, kind of like the wild west and the quickest gun draw. Believe you me, retention of knowledge will be passe and the start of the great decline of western civilization. Why you ask? Because the tools will not be a means to an end but an end unto itself and that my dear friends is the danger of this technology. I do have confidence that we can correct it before it is too late but there will be damage in the meantime. 

• Anonymous

  Yeah, they work so well that a large percentage of our college freshmen need remedial courses when they get to college. Tell me again how much test scores have improved since laptops were given out.

• http://www.facebook.com/people/Wookie-Pie/1801487975 Wookie Pie

  workplaces often have IT guys block the company machines from “time wasting” sites like youtube, facebook, and porn

• Anonymous

  I was one of the students lucky enough to go to this conference. I truly have been enlightened by these high school students’ success stories. I was nearly speechless throughout the whole day. The only word that I could utter was “Wow.” They are truly an inspiration to us all. They all took command of that stage, and proved to all 1,100 of us that, as Chris Jones himself said, “you set your own boundaries.” Chris’ five tips are all very influential and motivational. His words really got through, and he had an awe-striking presence whenever he talked. Overall, what occurred today was amazing, and I’m very proud to be in such a technology forward state, who puts their money to such great use. As the administrators of today’s event reiterated many times, Maine is one of, if not THE only, state who provides laptops for every student in their schools. These laptops have given us the privilege of ease. Everything, and I do mean everything, is much easier. For example, in English class, we have the ability to be able to whip out our laptops and start working on an essay, rather than wasting productive working time going to the computer lab to work on them there. And, we have accessibility to our work from home, which ensures that our work is quality. Yes, some students are using these laptops inappropriately by playing games or going on Facebook…some even have the gall to do these activities IN class, and I can definitely see why some people would think laptops are a “waste of money” because of this, but what these people are not taking into consideration is that if it wasn’t the laptops, it would be something else. Students who are not paying attention by going on the laptops for things other than school use are just not interested in school, in education, in their futures. This being said, they would find another way to distract themselves. Must we flash back to before computers were around, and the simplicity of “passing notes” was happening? See, one thing replaces another, and another, and another. That’s just the way it works, so it’s not the computers that are causing these issues, it’s the individual students without the drive for a future. So I, in no way, think that MLTI providing laptops for schools all over Maine is worthless. Just the opposite, in fact. I believe that laptops are a necessary educational tool to help prepare us for our futures. 

• Anonymous

  Jessie, if your reasoning skills are any indication, technology hasn’t hurt your learning ability! You make an excellent case and back it up with specific examples. Your teachers should be proud.

• Anonymous

  Thank you very much! I just believe in defending the programs that I believe are very valuable. Your comment means very much to me. Once again, thank you. :)

• http://katahdin.myopenid.com/ FrankC

  I agree to a point, that there is learning, thinking and rote memorization. 

  Personally I had no problem with subjects like geometry and chemistry because once you truly understood the concept  of the formulas, you didn’t have to remember anything, because you could always figure out the answer faster than trying to memorize the formula. 

• Cass Dubose

  My son was fortunate enough to be one of those in attendance today. Not only did he thoroughly enjoy the conference, he had a great time experiencing what a college campus is like. What a fabulous way to pique his interest in higher learning! 
  Something many people may not realize is the difference this MLTI program makes with ALL groups of students; those who just get ‘bored’ in school, and those who need extra assistance with learning. By providing an alternative means of completing work, children from all ability levels are able to engage and  participate in, and retain what they learn.  It also encourages them to work independently,  giving them a sense of ownership of their work. The smile on a child’s face when they finish an essay or create a digital presentation that they can say “I did it myself” about; the impact on their self esteem and confidence that they CAN do the work; is nothing short of incredible.
  In my particular school district, the elementary grades have computer labs with laptops at middle school level and there is a high degree of attention to internet safety from the ‘outside in’.  Sites are restricted or blocked; students are held accountable for their actions, as well as being encouraged to use the laptops as tools not toys.  From what I have seen in this district, the kids are very conscientious about the care of their laptops. Wear and tear is to be expected; however I would believe the number of laptops that are significantly damaged is relatively low.    
  My greatest issue* if there is one, is that many high schools are not able to continue the program.  What a disservice that is to all the students who have had the ability to explore, process, and disseminate what they have learned in so many ways.

  As JessieSweeney posted, there will always be something to distract students if they want to be distracted. Then again, some of those kids will be their generations Bill Gates or Steve Jobs. What we teach them now does sink in, even if it does not appear to. I still insist my son learn some of the ‘old fashioned’ ways of doing things, but lets face it. It’s the 21st century, and technology isn’t going anywhere. Instead of making it a negative, find a way to make it a useful and positive thing. That’s something MLTI is helping to make happen.

• Patten_Pete

  WASTE!

• Anonymous

  Computers process information.

  Information is not knowledge.

  Knowledge is not understanding.

  Understanding is not wisdom.

  Wisdom is not love.

  (as I type this on a computer…)

• http://www.facebook.com/people/Tony-Brinkley/1615902287 Tony Brinkley

  The issue is not whether Maine schools should provide robust technology to all students K-12. The question about MLTI has always been whether it reflects the best technology at a competitive cost. MLTI costs about $17 million a year. Over a 10 year period, that means the cost is about $170 million. So far MLTI covers students from 7-12 grade in some school districts. The town of Hermon has shown that it can provide a better technology at a fraction of the cost for every student (K-12) and that it can also use the same technology to wire the community. It works with a range of private companies including RedZone, Time-Warner among others. It has created a network. What MLTI over the years has created are warehouses of obsolete computers and a constant demand for new ones. Its dollars do not fund a network and do not contribute any solution whatsoever to the need for broadband in rural Maine. If over the same 10 years, the $250 million for MLTI were spent more wisely, the funding could provide broadband throughout Maine, computing for all Maine students, and still leave millions of dollars for other priorities. Maine is the only state, I believe, that has adopted anything like the MLTI program. We were the first, and so far, we are also the last. Perhaps there is a reason for this?

• Anonymous

  It would be easier to support the program if there was more instruction on how they work and typing skills. Most of what I see is slideshows, Internet browsing, social media, etc.. Most students have no idea how bits & bytes work. It’s a great opportunity for them, if their basic skills…reading, writing (proper grammar, not chat shorthand), and math, than we haven’t done them any favors.

• Diogenes

  That decline predates the laptop program.  You’re blaming the puddles for the rain. 
   

• Anonymous

  Bravo to you, young lady. Many of the naysayers here are failing to take into account that if  just 20 or 3o students reap the benefits (and I know there are many more than that just from reading the article) inherent in this program, then it can be considered a rousing success. We’re investing in our, and more importantly, YOUR future with this program. Thank you for helping set a great example for your peers. 

• Anonymous

  I thought I was reading Apple  ad copy! Use your laptops, but realize that 90% of businesses use PC/Windows based systems, including the US government. Do yourselves a favor and learn about Windows, Unix and other systems. Limiting yourself to Apple’s OS will stunt your opportunitys. 

• Anonymous

  Why do you think these games are unproductive? Because you don’t see how they could be or because they really are not? What is the definition of productive? Is your generations definition the same as your kids?
  Times are rapidly changing. We need to make sure our students are prepared. Information is no longer simple. Laptops engage students in their learning, allow them to explore old ideas in new ways. Allow for unlimited creativity. Expand horizons far far beyond a text.