Each of the 4,100 teachers in Howard County are getting a laptop.
“This is a phenomenal success,” said Robert Glascock, assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction.
As part of a $6.5 million lease agreement with Apple Financial through 2010, Glascock recently outlined technological advancements throughout the school system, which include new computers for teachers and students and computer upgrades.
That?s good news to John McDonald, media specialist at Marriotts Ridge High School in Marriottsville.
“Teachers can now take a laptop to a meeting or use it for planning purposes,” he said.
Having their own laptop will help teachers better manage their time.
“Sometimes, I had to work on three different computers, and it just wasn?t efficient,” said McDonald about his experience at another county high school.
McDonald said Marriotts Ridge has roughly 600 computers at its school, which opened in August 2005 with all the bells and whistles of new technology.
“We have a fantastic media center, and we lack for nothing,” he said.
Rick Robb, an English teacher at River Hill High School who has been lauded for integrating technology into his classroom, said, “I?m glad to see the county take this step and really support teachers. I think it?s marvelous.”
Teachers will become adept at using the technology now that they have the tools.
“Instead of just giving a lecture, we can use PowerPoint,” he said. “Instead of carrying our grades in a binder, we can now run an Excel spreadsheet.”
During the past 50 days, the Howard County school system?s technological advances
included:
» Installing 33 new mobile computer labs
» Distributing 2,500 laptops to achieve a 1-to-1 computer-to-teacher ratio
» Replacing computers in 37 general purpose labs
» Distributing 400 instructional computers in elementary and middle schools
» Installing 57 new servers in elementary and middle schools
» Upgrading 4,200 computers, standardizing applications and installing virus protection software in all elementary and middle schools
» Removing and recycling 3,000 “instructionally invalid” computers from schools
Source: Howard County School System
