Laptop Programs for Students
Andrew A. Zucker1 and
Daniel Light2
With the continuing decline in costs of technology, programs
are proliferating worldwide to put networked laptop computers
into the hands of millions of students on a routine basis. The
reasons policy-makers support these programs are based on economic
arguments, equity concerns, and widespread interest in education
reform. Studies of laptop programs in schools report that they
increase students' engagement in school, improve technology
skills, and have positive effects on students' writing. However,
evidence of the effectiveness of large-scale laptop programs
in other learning domains is scarce. Research in many nations
suggests that laptop programs will be most successful as part
of balanced, comprehensive initiatives that address changes
in education goals, curricula, teacher training, and assessment.
2 Center for Children and Technology, Education Development Center, 96 Morton Street (seventh floor), New York, NY 10014, USA. E-mail: dlight{at}edc.org
