|
FAQs about Netbooks for the Elementary
(Scroll down for FAQs about SMART Boards for Jr. High/High School)
Q. What will my Adopt-a-Classroom TLC money be used for this year?
A. Donations received for Adopt-a-Classroom TLC will be used to purchase Netbooks for the elementary and SMART Boards for classrooms at the Jr. High/High School.
Q. What’s the difference between a Netbook and a laptop computer?
A. Netbooks are smaller, so they fit on desks better. Netbooks do not contain a lot of the hardware typical of a laptop, such as a CD drive and extra RAM. Netbooks are not as expensive as laptops. Netbooks contain all of the word processing functions and Internet access as a laptop, but do not contain advanced software that elementary-age students would never use anyway.
Q. Can the Internet be used with the Netbooks?
A. Yes. Our technology department will hook the Netbooks up with our school’s wireless connection, thereby insuring that the same internet security precautions are in place as if the students were using the computer lab or library computers.
Q. Can Netbooks be used with the SMART Boards?
A. Students can prepare documents, make presentations (older students) and save the documents to a flash drive. The flash drive can be inserted into the teacher’s computer, which is connected to the SMART Board.
Q. Will each elementary classroom receive Netbooks for their students?
A. The Netbooks are on a mobile cart, containing 25 individual Netbooks, that can be wheeled from classroom to classroom. While it would be nice to provide EACH classroom with enough Netbooks for each student, the cost for that is prohibitive. So each classroom will have the opportunity to “check out” the Netbooks in their classroom for a day or a week at a time, as determined by their teacher.
Q. Will Kindergarten, first and second graders really benefit from Netbooks? Do they have the skills to use them and understand what they are doing?
A. Unlike just a few years ago, most of our youngest learners are already using computers at home! They are little experts on basic functions. Those young students who do not have computer access at home, need to be learning how to use computers at school so they do not fall behind their fellow students. The technology age has reached even toddlers, who play with electronic computer toys and digital cameras! We must meet the needs of our 21st Century learners in the classroom, thus, the need for Netbooks in our youngest elementary classes.
Q. When will the Netbooks be ordered?
A. When we have enough money, plain and simple. Continue to check the TCS Website > Giving Opportunities > Adopt-a-Classroom TLC for an update on the amount raised. The optimal close date for the TLC program is October 31, so we can order Netbooks and get them in the classroom for maximum benefit this year.
Donations will be accepted until we have enough money to order the Netbooks and cart.
Q. How much money do we need for a Netbook and Cart?
A. $11,328 will include 25 DELL Inspiron 1011 Netbooks with Atom N270 1.6Ghz Processor, 1 GB Ram, 10.1 inch screen, XP Home software, Wireless G NIC, 2-year warranty from DELL and a cart to hold, move and recharge the Netbooks.
Q. What if you don’t get enough money for the Netbooks, where will my donation go?
A. Donations will go toward the Netbooks. We will put the donations in a specific savings account until we have enough to provide the Netbooks.
FAQs about SMART Boards for the High School
Q. How many SMART Boards do we still need at the Jr. High/High School?
A. We still need seven (7) SMART Boards--Mr. Barnishin (Rm 124), Ms. Horne (Rm 116), Mrs. Price/Mr. Smith/Mr. Peterson (Rm111) and Mrs. Lyons/Mrs. Marcum (Rm 132), Mr. Gaines (Rm 133), Mrs. Smith/Mrs. Fletcher (118) and Mrs. Barnishin (Rm 126).
Q. How much does it cost to equip a classroom with SMART Board technology?
A. Each room, including equipment, parts and labor costs $4,000 to equip.
Note about SMART Boards at the High School:
Since we first began equipping our school with SMART Boards, the technology has revolutionized classroom teaching. The teachers and students love them. We have all but seven of our classrooms utilizing SMART Boards.
The classrooms without SMART Boards really need them! We have had financial support from parents, local grant foundations and the Adopt-a-Classroom TLC program.
We need to finish this project and complete our classrooms that do not have SMART Boards. If you heart is for giving to technology, please contact Shelly Calvert, 339-5692, x119. We are constantly looking for sources to fund the SMART Board project. Ideas?
|