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Alvin students beam in homework
Published September 29, 2006
ALVIN — Students in Ray Leal’s seventh-grade humanities class no longer have to hand him their assignments — they beam them to him.
This week, the Harby Junior High School students were among the first of 250 students to receive Dell AXIM handheld computers that link with each other on a schoolwide, wireless server. The devices are part of Alvin ISD’s Handheld Initiative, which aims to integrate advanced technology into the everyday curriculum.
Next year, the district will issue the computers to 1,000 seventh-grade students.
“I think that whoever wanted to do this is very smart because they make kids want to learn,” student Alyssa Flores said.
Students are able to download information from each other by putting the devices in short range of one
another. That’s why many of them have the same picture of a monkey on their device’s desktop.
“I found this picture of the monkey, and then I beamed it to everyone in the class,” student Paige Croxton said.
The computers will enable the students to work in groups more efficiently, research faster and bring their classroom experiences home with them, said Kerri Neubauer, coordinator of instructional technology for the district.
The devices are able to do everything a laptop computer can, said Melinda Louvier, Alvin ISD’s instructional technology specialist.
The district has purchased 300 AXIMs, each costing $450 with accessories. The program being paid for by a bond approved in November 2005.
“It’s a great opportunity to move our kids into the 21st century,” said Alvin ISD Superintendent Greg Smith. “The child learning continues, and it’s a 24-hour experience.”
Before the device is issued, students must sign an Acceptable Hand Held Use Agreement which gives administrators, teachers and their parents the right to check the contents of their computer and delete any files they deem necessary, Louvier said.
The devices will stay inside the classroom for now, but this spring students will be permitted to take them home. Students who have Internet access at home will be able to use their devices to get online. If they don’t, a program called “Fling It” will allow them to access Web sites without being online.
“We want them to be able to work outside of school more easily,” said Louvier. “We want it to be an equal opportunity despite economic status.”
In the program’s first week, the district has noticed improvements in student behavior and test scores, said Jennifer Orr, an instructional technology specialist for the district.
“If they manipulate technologically, they seem to absorb it better,” Leal said. “Then learning becomes fun.”
Leal said his students are absorbing information much faster because they are fully engaged into the device.
“The most exciting part is to look at the kids’ faces,” said Harby Principal Nancy Flores. “This is so much better than turning in a worksheet.”
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