”When we did the laptop distribution, we had orientation sessions every hour that students had to attend with a parent or guardian,” says Brooks. “After we were finished with the first four nights, we realized that we’d handed out all but about 50 of the 1100 laptops — and that the same number of parents had participated in the training! Here was something that the families thought was important enough to get them here. It was very promising.”

Boosting Student Engagement and Achievement

Cliff Herlth, the original advocate for the 1 to 1 learning program, says the iBook laptops have more then met his expectations. Once Gunderson switched from its prior wireless infrastructure to one powered by AirPort Extreme Base Stations, Herlth says it’s been relatively smooth sailing ever since — and the learning continues nonstop.

”Compared to last year, students are progressing much farther, much faster, since they have their iBook computers with them all the time,” observes Herlth. “The ease of use that Apple is famous for has allowed students to actually use the laptops as tools in all of their classes, rather than making the computer itself the curriculum. And, when every student has an iBook laptop, productivity extends far beyond the classroom.”

Just to see what having the iBook laptops does for student attitude and motivation is enough for us.

— Demerris Brooks
Principal, Gunderson High School

Adds Kirker, “Now that all students have laptops, it’s like the world has opened up for them! You should see them sitting in the hallways with their iBook computers. Granted, they’re often looking at things they like, like iTunes — but they do have their laptops open and they’re exploring, which is huge.”

”Just to see what having the iBook laptops does for student attitude and motivation is enough for us,” finishes Brooks. “We all know that keeping students motivated is our biggest challenge. But they love the iBook laptops. They think they’re great — so we think they’re great as well.”