JANELL ELLISON
MICHAEL MACIAS
NATOYA COLEMAN
SPENSER JOHNSON

CIS 515

Group 2
Professor Robert Hettinger

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ABSTRACT

Understanding of the importance to issue laptops to High School Students
Long term benefits over risk for students, post graduation
Ethical responsibilities of the students and faculty to ensure the investment is well made
The world is highly reliant on computers and students who had access to them have had more opportunites for careers.

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WHY CHANGE?

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THE WORLD HAS CHANGED

Most of the world runs on a computer for something, from the biggest to smallest tasks. If you do not understand at least the basics, you will be at a severe disadvantage.

INTERACTIVE LEARNING

Various findings have shown that students feel more engaged with a computer during class. They are able to see or understand what is being taught to them visually, more so than a teacher or book could own their own. The interactivity provided by the computer gives the students hands on learning as well.

ETHICAL RESPONSIBILITIES

The world is full of distractions in the connected environment, so it is not simply giving the students a computer with full access. We have a responsibility to have provided limited access that will be beneficial and less distracting while online. Ethical rules will be put in place as condition of the free laptops that can be monitored for inappropriate use. Giving responsibility to the student as well will help develop their responsibility as they become adults.

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POST-GRADUATION OPPORTUNITIES

With a better understanding of computers and how to interact with them, students will have more opportunities available to them and will be able to better adapt to the world around them. Technology should not be an obstacle for anyone of any income level.

TRENDS

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GROWING SUPPORT

There has been growing support for years. From 2015 to 2017 the number of principles who were in favor of assigning some type of portable device for learning doubled.

REMOTE LEARNING

During the COVID-19 Pandemic, students adapted remote learning, as many parents adapted to remote working. This accelerated the need and desire for this new type of learning environment.

ACCEPTANCE

There is a great deal of more acceptance for students to have access to technology, not limited to remote learning. With the tools a laptop can offer, students are able to interact on a new level and feel connected to the education. Parents can rest assured of the management of content their children are able to access with assigned laptops.

COSTS

HARDWARE

Unsurprisingly, the largest expense is the laptop itself. If the program is state funded, it could be possible to negotiate a well reduced price for statewide purchase.

SOFTWARE

Large scale purchases can bring down the cost of the necessary software that cannot be acquired for free. A good percentage of the basic software needed for a High School student is of low to no cost for their education.

NETWORK

The cost of the network is a variable that will depend on individual schools. There could be no cost if a large network was already established, some cost to upgrade, of the full cost of implementing a network to a school that did not have one, although this is rare.

TECHNICAL SUPPORT

There will need to be a team of dedicated staff to assist staff and students with technical issues, should they arise. The cost of this could be spent internally or outsourced if needed.

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RISKS

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Depending on the current status of each school, this could be of little to a large consequence of the initial investment to get this program going. Fortunately, savings will come back eventually from the lack of printed material necessary.

Initial Debt

This will take time to setup on all sides. Partnering with the right hardware and software makers. Network setup and educating the educators is all time consuming before the distribution to the students has started.

Setup

Everyone learns differently, at various rates. It would be irresponsible to assume every student and teacher would understand enough to get started. Some special needs will need to be met

Adaptation

GUIDELINES FOR SUCCESS IN THE CLASSROOM

According to the HISD school district, Michael E. DeBakey High School has a laptop acceptable use policy that outlines the following guidelines:

A student must bring their laptop to school every day.
A student must have his/her laptop in the case 100% of the time.
A student must come to school with his/her laptop fully charged.
A student must prevent laptop damage.
A student must prevent laptop loss/theft.
Laptop access to DeBakey’s network services will be provided throughout the school via a wireless network.
HISD blocks websites and web-based services that the administration deem to pose a threat to the safety, security, academics and well-being of its community members, facilities, network, and resources. Categories that are blocked include: pornography and sexually explicit material, criminal and illegal activities, weapons and extreme violence, computer hacking, spyware and malicious software, certain video streaming sites, and certain social media sites.

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THE FUTURE IS BRIGHT

We live in a world that is abundantly placed in technology. Whether the child is about to head to college or straight into the workforce from high school, the first benefit of having a laptop provided to them is developing the skills to be familiar with working in a digital environment. As we've seen, the transition to this model with laptops has already started. It is important that we embrace this change for the better of today's students being ready for the 21st century world they will live and work in.