LIFE

L.I.F.E. (Laptop Initiative for Education) is a program of Leon County Schools funded through several grants to facilitate the infusion of technology into the classroom. Teams of teachers in 3rd and 6th grades in six pilot schools received laptops from Apple and Dell and entered into a five month training program in the use of wireless technology, digital media and sound enhancement in the classroom.

Early grades tap into technology
Reading, writing and keyboarding by second grade

by Desiree' Pulley

Hunter Scott sits with his back straight, tapping away at his laptop. After all, he wants his Venn diagram to be the best.

Hunter considers himself a smart and handsome computer pro. "I've been doing this for a while," he said nodding. He's nine years old. At Roberts Elementary School in Tallahassee, technology is just as important as letter books, flash cards and worksheets.

But the computers don't start with the students, they begin with the teachers.

Five years ago, Principal Peggy Youngblood knew she wanted to incorporate more technology into her school.

"The problem is we've always given technology to children first and then teacher," she said. "I wanted to reverse that."

At Roberts and in other elementary schools in Leon County, students in kindergarten are using desktops. They learn the basics of the computer, they practice reading and math programs, and they learn how to control the mouse.

In first and second grades, students learn proper hand placement and keyboarding skills.

"I used to hunt and peck at the keyboard," Youngblood said. "I don't want my students learning that method."

By third grade, students are creating PowerPoint presentations with more than seven different slides with pictures, font changes and more.

Every teacher at Roberts has a laptop. No more green grade books to carry around and no more lesson plans to copy and staple; everything's done on the computer.

One advantage that Roberts has over elementary school in the district is that the school is completely wireless, meaning that the Internet is instantly accessible. The equipment is provided through the Laptop Initiative for Education program. The program is being used in three elementary school and three middle schools and next year the goal is to expand to ten schools.

Angie Gaddy, Third grade teacher, said the students even teach her new things.

"I forget how to do something, and they remind me," she said. "You show them something twice, and they've got it. During lessons, the children will say, 'Ms. Gaddy, can you just whip up a PowerPoint?' for them it's that simple, and it keeps them engaged."

And quiet. With a power packed machine in front of them producing colors, pictures and sounds, there is no time to talk out of turn or make paper air planes. These kids have better things to do.

Emily Schwartz, 9 quickly finds her Black History Month project saved on the server.

"I saved it in my folder, and it's there whenever I want to look at it," she said.

After about eight clicks of the mouse, a colorful and handmade picture of pioneer journalist Ida B. Wells appears on the screen. "See? There she is," Emily said.

Laura Rogers, program director of WorldClass Schools, said projects like the Laptop Initiative for Education is expensive but necessay.

WorldClass Schools is a collaboration between the Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce and Leon County Schools. Its goal is to help create a school system where all students achieve higher academic standards and are prepared for post-secondary education.

"The program has been around for seven years, and we are basically the business voice who helps the school district and its goals," Rogers said.

"For one class to have 25 laptops, it's almost $50,000," she said, "so no, this project is not in every school, but we are working towards that goal."

Rogers said the project is not easy to maintain. "We have to train the teachers, and there are software updates," she said. "We help sponsor the training of old and new teachers because they have to know how to operate the machine first."

Adriane Peters, instructional coordinator for the LIFE projects for Leon County schools, said the program started in the 2003-04 school tern, and funding came form the Enhancing Education through Technology Grant.

"We started small, but we are gradually expanding," she said. "With the hope that everything goes accordingly with funding, we will expand to 10 sites next year, including a partnership with a local high school."

Peters said you have to start small to build a successful program.

"This program is working because of staff development, a gradual progression and planning for the future," she said.

"And high schools better get ready," Peters said, "because we have some incredible kids completely saturated with technology getting ready to come through the door."