Paul Johnson reported that this fall, 270 freshmen students at River Dell Regional High School, NJ each received a Tablet PC, training to use it for academics, and a special backpack to carry it. Each new incoming class will receive a Tablet PC until every student has one. There are currently 950 students in the school.
“It’s what the kids will face in college and the workplace,” said Principal Lorraine Brooks. “We’ve discovered the tablets would meet a broad set of needs.”
During Spring 2006, 140 teachers and administrators received Tablet PCs and training to use them.
Teachers say they will be able to use electronic textbooks so students eventually won’t have to carry many books. Homework assignments can be posted online and sent to teachers via the Internet.
“Eventually, we’ll go paperless,” said math teacher Mustapha Elqariani.
The program will cost $200,000 in the first year.
Kudos to River Dell school visionaries! We look forward to learning more about your progress.
Check out River Dell Regional High School’s description on greatschools.com http://www.greatschools.net/cgi-bin/nj/rankings/1474 Double kudos, people. Keep up the good work.
the laptops program acutally isn’t all that great.im a rd alumnus and rd curriculum does not fit in well wit the tablet pc despite what brooks thinks. it is actually lowering the academic levels at river dell. in addition we are short on budget due to the economic crisis…. i think it makes sense for rd to abolish laptops so that we can save our electives and other activities that we offer. besides i don’t really use a laptop in college besides using it to write papers…. does the tablet pc really prepare you for college ? the answer is no