Survey Says: Dedham High Netbook Program a Success

freshmen students, parents and teachers are overall pleased with the district's new put in place this year and administrators are looking to continue the program next school year.

"We've allowed everyone to have access to the same resources," DHS technology director Don Langenhorst said. "In today's school, you hear of 'bring your own technology,' but you can only bring technology if you have it."

Surveys conducted over the past month by Langenhorst show that students believe they learn better in the classroom when they have technology at their fingertips, able to enhance their learning using the Internet.

Out of 89 parents who returned surveys, 72 percent said the initiative enhances their child's education at DHS.

"It gives you a sense that parents are pretty positive with what is happening at Dedham High School," Langenhorst said.

Since the implementation of the netbook initiative, Langenhorst said more students have used the online discussion forum Blackboard, and students and parents alike more regularly check grades through the online database, PowerSchool.

"My goal is that everyone has equal access," Langenhorst said.

With any new technology implementation, there are software and hardware questions and malfunctions that need to be addressed, but the school's technology department took those troubleshooting matters and created a learning opportunity.

Volunteer freshman serve as technology support staff for peers having issues with their netbooks.

"They're providing some of the support for issues," Langenhorst said.

Both parents and students reported that they have problems connecting the netbook to the Internet at home.

"I want 100 percent of people happy with connecting at home, so that is something we want to address," the technology director said. "I'm open for any ideas and creative suggestions to help those handful of people."

Parents and students both suggested improvements that the district could make moving forward. Among them, continuing to look at what websites the school filters out and prevents students from accessing on the netbooks, whether they're at home or at school.

As far as a better netbook then the cosmetically challenged light gray HP 100e with a handle, the district will need to find another netbook for the fall if the program is approved as the manufacturer discontinued HP 100e. Each system cost the district about $400.

"The machine we have out there is not the Cadillac, but it is functioning well," Langenhorst said. "There are no limitations that we would experience with any others."

Use in the Classroom

While many schools across the country that Langenhorst has looked into asks teachers to volunteer for the program, Dedham freshmen instructors didn't have a choice in the matter. 

"The teachers are doing a very good job of adapting," Langenhorst said.

Many are catching on and finding that a computer allows students to take notes quicker, and cover material faster and more in-depth.

"The ideologues have not been against it in this school," assistant principal John Murray said. "I haven't heard complaints from parents."

Murray credited the netbook initiative and the team-teaching model for cutting down on absences and improving grades year over year.

"We're already finding some significant gains," Murray said. "The kids feel more engaged with the netbook."

Students are able to make connection between what they're learning in World History to current events in just a matter of moments.

"It's the way that education is going," Murray said. "It's an awesome tool for kids to have at their disposal."

History teacher Keith Comeau said he uses the netbooks just about everyday, because it allows him to email slideshow lectures to the students.

"The kids can actually listen to an explaination," Comeau said. "It provides them an opportunity that they didn't have before - and it enhances the overall classroom experience."