The Digital Class Logs In

The excuse "my dog ate my homework" will no longer fly at Niles West and Niles North this year when each incoming freshman will be equipped with a new Dell Mini 1020 computer.

The program is part of District 219's new Anywhere/Anytime Learning initiative, which will provide netbook computers to freshmen at its high schools.

"Instead of walking around with a big binder and a bunch of papers and clutter, you will have all of your materials in the netbook," said Nick Arcus, 14, an incoming freshman at Niles North High School.

A netbook's primary feature is portability -- it's about 40 percent smaller than a regular laptop.

The initiative, which has been in the works for four years, begins this fall and is part of a four-year plan to digitize the district by 2014. Each year, the school system will equip freshmen with new technology.

"This year it is a netbook; next year it might be the iPad or iPhone," said Guy Ballard, District 219's chief technology officer.

Ballard added that about 980 freshmen will receive the computers this year, at a cost of $367,5000. By 2014, officials say, all 5,000 students in the district will have entered the digital age.

"We believe students will need to understand digital tools to be successful in the future, and we wanted to prepare them for life beyond high school," he said.

With a price tag of $375 for each netbook, Ballard said student fees would pay for the computers. With the annual fees at about $415 for each student, the district concluded that their return on investment can save a "considerable" amount of money by using digital materials, the tech chief said.

Last year, the district began reformatting its freshman curriculum to include online applications for assignments and lessons. Teacher training courses were offered on how to integrate technology into the classroom. Each year, until 2014, the subsequent curriculum will be formatted to accommodate students as they advance in grades.

The new curriculum will allow teachers to cut down on paper by using Internet-based programs such as Google Docs.

"This year, we will be able to use Google Docs as a tool for formatting an assignment," said Ivan Silverberg, an English teacher at Niles North High School. "All of the work can be done inside that program, from peer revision to editing to a final submission."

In addition to Google Docs, teachers will use Web sites such as moodle.org, an open-source learning tool; and Dimdim, a Web conferencing technology.

"Using Dimdim, I can have virtual office hours," Silverberg said. "I can set aside two hours on Friday and Sunday nights to talk about revisions. They can pull me up on their screen and we can chat."

The district is also addressing security concerns and improper use of the netbooks.

"We have a program where we teach students the proper use of the Internet," Ballard said. "We will monitor Internet traffic and block inappropriate sites when they are at school."

And that includes Facebook.

Skokie resident Judy Kaufman said she is thrilled her son, Jacob, will be getting a netbook this coming fall at Niles North.

"I just think it's very important that [the school] establishes a work ethic and reinforcement," she said. "Since we have to go with the times, that's where the times are going to take you."