Teachers were asked the following questions:

Do you like to use the laptops to teach?  Why?

What impact has the laptop had in your teaching?

"The Medium is the Message"

As communications guru, Marshall McLuhan so famously stated, "the medium is the message". It is using this guiding teaching philosophy, through computer literacy, that has richly afforded the grade nine students of Richmond Regional High School to embrace fundamental media literacy practices.

The direct interaction between student and computer -- instantaneously confronting them with navigating news, current events, music, video culture, mass advertising and pop culture messages--helped the student transcend media literacy through the ETSB contribution of laptops. This contribution has helped me reinforce media literacy at its core by engaging students to be more aware of media is dually productive and inspiring for students.
Marina Delis
Teacher, Richmond Regional High School

*********************************************************

Whether I was teaching Morals IV, History I and II, Geography I and II, or English I-II, the laptops have allowed my students to expand their understanding of the world, to make connections that they would not have been able to make without access to the technology.
Bruce Anderson
Teacher, Richmond Regional High School

*******************************************************

I think that it is a great tool in the classroom.  It enables me to take my lessons a step further (as far as enrichment goes) and it allows me to reach the students who can (could) be left behind.

I use the laptop everyday for:

• Text edit – helps students edit their work
  
• Audio recorder – record homework as I dictate it
  
• Internet – for research info and often as an intro to lessons
  
• iCalendar – helps students with organisation
  
• Collaba – instant contact with peers, especially after school
  
• PowerPoint – presentations
  
• SmartBoards – during lessons

Josie Gibbs
Teacher Knowlton Academy

****************************************************

Oui, cela me permet d'avoir l'accès rapide à de l'information et des ressources éducatives.  

Mon enseignement est d'autant plus dynamique, l'utilisation de la projection et de supports visuels.
Beaucoup plus facile d'enseigner.  C'est rapide…
Martine Bourbeau, Teacher Grades 5-6-7
Waterloo Elementary School

***************************************************

It gives me the opportunity to a wide variety of material for project-based learning, this is a must. The laptop allows the student to expand knowledge with the click of the mouse.

It certainly has allowed for a variety of activities eg. IMovie. We are writing, directing, producing, editing, acting in a manner that is stimulating and fun.
Lynn McKelvey, Grade 6
Teacher Knowlton Academy

***************************************************

I find I can go further with my teaching.  I'm more able to push those students who excel and to keep them interested.  For the weaker students, I find they are more motivated to be at school.
Correne Giles, Grade 4 Teacher
Sherbrooke Elementary School

***************************************************

Using the laptops has facilitated & enriched the learning activities I use with my students. Our centre doesn't have a school library so each student having a laptop with easy access to World Wide Web has enabled them to do research & information gathering that was previously impossible. Secondly, the one-to-one computing has greatly improved both the speed and quality of student work. Students no longer wait in line to type their assignments – they have integrated the laptop use into the actual composing of their documents and assignments. This has been particularly invaluable for those students who are learning disabled or who experience learning challenges.
Randi Heatherington, Adult Education Teacher
New Horizons

******************************************************

YES! Je trouve que c'est un outil formidable pour rendre l'enseignement plus intéressant, motivant et aussi pour donner une façon d'apprendre plus pratique (plus réelle) aux élèves. Je pense que les ordinateurs sont un bon outil mais je pense aussi qu'il manque de ressources pour les enseignants. Il faudrait plus de temps pour que les enseignants planifient leur utilisation des " laptops" avec les élèves…

Les " laptops" ont aidé à motiver les élèves parce qu'ils permettent de réaliser une multitude de choses différentes. Les élèves aiment produire quelque chose de " réel". Les " laptops" permettent aussi aux élèves qui sont moins " académiques" de briller! Les " ordis" aident à préparer les jeunes pour leur avenir dans la société " médias" d'aujourd'hui et le monde du travail de demain!

Les problèmes du début d'année ont certainement eu un impact sur mon enseignement depuis le début de cette année!
Marie Hélène Pelletier, Grade 5 Teacher
Ayer's Cliff Elementary School

******************************************************

The advent of laptop computers in the classroom has been an extremely exciting “revolution” in teaching in our school board.

The introduction of laptop computers into the classroom has been an incredibly exciting development in teaching in our school board! It has opened doors (and windows!) into an entire realm of new possibilities and settings for learning.

We have students working on an enormous range of projects: iMovies, PowerPoint presentations, various work with photography using iPhoto, GargageBand, and the list goes on.
Barbara Morrow, Teacher Secondary IV & V Math and Science
Massey-Vanier High School

*****************************************************

Very much!  I use them especially for research projects.  The students are far more interested in searching for information on the web rather than in books.  I like the fact that all students in my class have access to the same resources rather than to have to share, or wait their turn to use an encyclopaedia, etc.

I have come to rely on it as a tool.  This can pose a problem if a laptop breaks down or, for example, the students haven't received their laptop until the end of September! 

I have also learned new skills eg. PowerPoint and will be learning how to use iMovie this
year along with my students, thanks to the START team.

I strongly feel that the older students should have access to the laptops before the cycle 2 students.
Louise Boyce, Grade 6 Teacher
Ayer's Cliff Elementary School

*************************************************