High Hopes for a Low-Performing, Rural School

Profiles in Success: Maine Public Schools

Positive Attitudes Prevail

One of the greatest revelations, says Davies, was that even in a classroom of adolescents who might normally be adopting negative attitudes towards school, she saw none of that behavior. Instead, students’ personal context for learning underwent a significant shift when they began working with their iBook laptops.

“In this classroom,” Davies marvels, “it seemed as though being engaged and learning was the cool thing — to be connected was really important. I wish I could find a way to convey this experience. It was amazing to watch these students be that engaged, to be working that hard, and to be that thoughtful about their work.”

In Davies’ research document, “Finding Proof of Learning in a One-to-One Computing Classroom,” one student is quoted as saying that if her class’s iBook laptops were taken away, “I’d say, ‘You’re slowing us down; we’re taking a step backwards. There’s not enough information [in books] for us anymore.’”

“I never used to like writing, and now I love it. It was the computer that made the difference.”

— Eastern Elementary School Student

Another adds, “I never used to like writing, and now I love it.” Still another comments, “I used to think writing was boring, and I didn’t want to do it. But then I started typing and … I let my imagination go and I started making up different stories, like aliens and all types of stuff. It was the computer that made the difference.”

Researchers Document New Trends

Ultimately, says Davies, students and teachers alike at Eastern Elementary viewed the iBook laptops as being the “great equalizer” in learning. Communication via the laptops is much simpler, so students can learn from each other as well as their teachers.

In addition, students experiment more because fixing mistakes is a simple process. Thus, students are more willing to make mistakes, and see them as learning opportunities. Also, students feel they are producing more work, that their work is of greater range and quality, and say they’re applying, analyzing, and synthesizing information and knowledge more often. And the best news of all — Eastern Elementary is no longer a failing school.