Classroom Computers

Our local school district has finally passed a new technology initiative. Basically, they would like to place, in each classroom at our school, two computers for student use. This proposal, however, is being rejected by the teachers here, because the computers will be limited. They instead want to place all of the computers together, in two special computer labs. The district isn’t happy because of the extra cost and room they will have to provide to accommodate the computers. The teachers and the district are now arguing over which plan to incorporate into the system here. I support the teachers’ proposition, because this idea would be for the good of the whole school. Firstly, placing the computers in two special classrooms would make it easier on the teachers. They would have an easier time teaching their students all at once, instead of two at a time, as the district’s plan implies with two computers in a classroom. The teachers would not have to repeat themselves, but merely supervise the students as the students complete an assignment or learn more about computers. This would make learning faster, so that teachers would not have to go through the tedious task of staying on one assignment for a week or so. An average class is made up of around twenty-six or twenty-eight students. Two at a time would mean that some students would not gain computer experience, or that teachers would have to be good at quick detailed repetition of directions. Because some teachers do not like to repeat themselves, the former is more likely, and that would not be to the benefit of the students. Students would be more synchronized with one another. If one student needed help, instead of bothering the teacher for assistance, he or she could merely turn to his or her neighbor and ask what to do next. Also, in a classroom setting such as the