Netbooks

Most of my postings up to this point have already included the phrase "assuming each student has a laptop," because I feel like without student real-time use to these technologies we have been learning about, some of the learning effect will be lost. The teacher would most likely lose a lot of working time as he or she has to "retrain" each student with the classroom computer when it came to be his turn with it." Now, as I have maintained all along, I don't feel like we necessarily need these technologies to effectively stimulate learning; but if we are going to completely transition over to a technology integrated and/or centered/focused whatever classroom, it would be nearly futile to try it without a computer per student (or at least pair of students).

The question remains, however, which mode of one-to-one student computing would be the most effective? It's hard for me to get past the price, right off the bat, but also as an argument I keep running into. The author even comments on potentially budget being the deciding factor for these incentives in schools. Simply put, netbooks are cheaper; and from what I have gathered from my reading, stand up well in design against the test of student hands. I have only had the experience with iPads from this class, but I envision myself as a nervous wreck trying to stay accounted for a classroom of fragile 500 dollar bills with not-so-careful-or-aware-all-the-time teenagers. I feel like my fear of complete freedom for the students with iPads would limit their use, but would save the investment. On a personal note, I prefer a keyboard rather than the touch screen on the iPads, and I think even a smaller keyboard would be much more realistic for the more serious word processing we would be doing in my classroom, anyway. Transporting of the computer would be in favor of either tool, although my hesitation comes in again with the more delicate state of iPads (even with a case).......I know all too well the conditions of a public school bus. I guess we'll just have to wait and see what my school will have to offer...at least I'll be prepared for whatever may come! :)