One of the most useful items on the laptop is the RAM and the ability for students to complete projects for senior and advance studies projects, which our desktops do not have the capability to complete.  One example of this is a student’s advanced studies project.  Students that have completed all the classes in a Career and Technical Education Pathway that are offered at a school can sign up for an advanced studies course in a CTE area and study a topic/skill in the area which is not taught in the courses offered.  The advanced studies student in the business area completed a video and research project where she worked with a member of the Carolina Hurricanes Staff to create a documentary on the Spirit Squad of the Hurricanes.  Here are the links to her video that she posted on YouTube prior to burning the final copy to DVD.   

·          http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h2fECKwfqw0

·          http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o6j4plAi3Pc

·          http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-5011664039831054524&hl=en

The laptop was used to created, edit and burn her presentation utilizing the capabilities of the laptop that were not present on current computer hardware and software located in the school. 

Also the laptop was also used to provide different learning opportunities and new skills to the staff of WCHS.  The technology facilitator used the laptop to obtain and refine the skills to be able to present them to the staff in a hands-on environment.  Examples of the projects coming from these opportunities include integrating the program Moviemaker into the curriculums at WCHS.  I have two teachers that have complete videos within their classes.  Mrs. Bonnette created videos in her Film Literature Class in which the students had to write, produce and edit their video using the computers and compile them into a format that could be viewed by the students digitally.  Mrs. Lutz created Moviemaker projects with her Earth Science classes.  Her students created movies to teach their peers about the US National Parks. Both projects were very successful and the students learned a lot about the content as well as the technology to produce videos to convey a message. 

We also utilize the laptop to be able to use blogging in the classroom setting.  We introduced blogging to the staff in a staff development and then we had a few teachers to utilize blogging in their classrooms as a form of journal and discussion.  One of the teachers that have begun his own blog is Mr. L. Arnold.  He began his blog with his US History class for discussion and has found that the students enjoy discussion and posting on the web more than discussion in the class.  Students felt more freedom to speak up in the blog and discuss more about a subject than in class.   This has entered the students into and more in depth discussion and facilitated understanding that they may not have received if the blog had not been present. 

So as you can see the difference one laptop has made at West Carteret High School, but this is only the beginning.  We have just scratched the surface of the difference that the laptop can make in the education of our teachers and students.  I as well as the staff can hardly wait to see if our laptop carts will be approved and in the words of Dr. Seuss, “O, oh, the places we’ll go!”