http://www.wral.com/news/education/story/10117136/

Quote :

"...Barwell has also become technology central: a smart board in every classroom, an iPod touch for every student, an individualized website tracking each student's grades, test scores, work samples and goals. "It actually shows what you need to work on, and it shows what you're doing great on," Shanika said. Students can practice music in a new studio with iPad instruments or give the daily news on the set of "Bear TV." Qiana Harvey said the infusion of technology makes the classrooms more interactive and hands-on, and that motives students like her son, who's in fourth grade. "The overall environment has made him want to do more, and his self-esteem level is increasing," said Harvey, who is president of the Barwell Parent-Teacher Association..."

[Edited on September 15, 2011 at 12:15 PM. Reason : ibtwralthreadetc]

9/15/2011 12:12:50 PM

i forgot that i have an ipod touch

9/15/2011 12:15:08 PM

Coming soon to a ballot near you...

We need another billion dollar bond referendum to build new schools.

9/15/2011 12:18:55 PM

At my last job the superintendent was all about this. We were rolling out SMARTBoards in all classrooms, but he really wanted to do a laptop for every kid in middle and high school, and then scaled it back to an iPod touch. Then it went to no money for any of that BS, so they stuck to the smartboards.

9/15/2011 12:21:36 PM

so who's paying for those ipod touches

9/15/2011 12:31:16 PM

Race to the Top federal grant.

Quote :

"a smart board in every classroom, an iPod touch for every student"

a chicken in every pot and a car in every garage

[Edited on September 15, 2011 at 12:41 PM. Reason : -]

9/15/2011 12:38:32 PM

I don't think our taxes should pay to put an itouch in all kids in elementary school, so they can chat and play games while at school. I remember being in undergrad, and saving up to buy one of those. Now they're going to give them to first graders. What if someone drops it, do they just get another one?

9/15/2011 2:15:06 PM

Ipod touches? really?

I can see tablets, netbooks, or laptops, but a glorified mp3 player?

Waste of money.

9/15/2011 2:18:44 PM

Quote :

"ANGRY BIRDS 101"

Quote :

"ZOMBIE HIGHWAY ED"

9/15/2011 2:28:09 PM

^^^But the kids come home smiling and talking about how cool school was... of course I probably would have been pretty stoked as a kid if I just got the equivalent of a Christmas present my first day at school.

You couldn't even have a walkman that you just brought with you to listen to while you waited on the bus back when I was a kid. I can see how a sudden switch from learning hard things to play with a Christmas present has created a "a bright, cheery, happy environment" for children.

9/15/2011 2:35:16 PM

potential: high
expectations: low

9/15/2011 2:36:15 PM

Lowest performing school in Wake County?

Free iPods!

9/15/2011 9:13:11 PM

God Wake County, if you're going to waste money on something then at least do the One Hundred Dollar Laptop from One Laptop Per Child (laptop.org).

It's not very good technology and is meant for 3rd-world countries, but at least its educational.

9/16/2011 12:07:23 AM