The arrival of the first shipment of Apple iBook computers last week has prompted several teachers to spend some of their free time learning how to use the laptops and apply the knowledge to everyday classroom work.

The iBooks are the brainchild of Gov. Angus King, who wants to see every Maine seventh-grader have access to a laptop computer by the end of the 2002-2003 school year. While the program has become somewhat controversial because of the state budget deficit, supporters say that the computers will allow all schools to have access to the same information whether they're located in a rural community like Greenville or an urban center like South Portland.

Greenville has seven iBooks so far - six for the teachers and one spare - and another 30 should be arriving before school starts in September, according to Technology Coordinator Kathy Bishop. "They're very user-friendly," said Bishop, "but we've got two days of professional development classes scheduled to help get everyone up to speed."

Union 60 Superintendent Steven Pound says that he fully supports the laptop initiative, recalling that computers in the classroom were the norm when he was principal of Quebec City Regional High School from 1979-86. "We managed to get private funding for 68 computers, which was quite an accomplishment back then," said Pound. "Today, they're a valuable teaching tool, just like the VCR was when it first came out."

Teacher Dale Murray says that he uses a computer "a fair amount of time, but not necessarily in the classroom. But I saw some opportunities last spring where having a computer available for each student would have helped tremendously."

The Maine Learning Results, which go into effect next year, also urges teachers to integrate computer use into everyday classroom work, not just technology courses. "It could be as simple as having students take notes on the laptop instead of by hand," Bishop explained.

More than likely, the new computers will stay within the confines of the school. "Our insurance carrier prefers that the students not take them home. There's a question of liability now, but that could change," said Bishop.

Workers have already prepared some of the classrooms to accommodate AirPorts, an Apple wireless program, at no cost to the school.

Pound, who has been in town for several weeks and officially took over the superintendent's position on July 1, said that he's also impressed with the teachers' enthusiasm for the laptop initiative. "I've seen more people coming in on their own time during the summer for staff development in Greenville than in any other place I've worked," said Pound.
"This content originally appeared as a copyrighted article in the Moosehead Messenger and is used here with permission."