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 For many, the computer lab is standard By Eleanor Chute, Post-Gazette Education Writer Just three years ago, the Midland School District in Beaver County had only 31 computers, all of which used technology that was older than the students. When school opens today, Midland will have more than 200 computers for its 300 students in first-through eighth-grades. ''It has just transformed the way we do everything,'' said Midland Superintendent Nick Trombetta. When computers first came on the school scene, only wealthier school districts had them. Now in many schools, a computer lab is about as standard as the school cafeteria. John Bailey, director of the state office of educational technology, said this is a ''huge cultural shift.'' ''They're realizing they need computers, real good educational content, connectivity and professional development,'' said Bailey, who credited the state's Link-to-Learn grants as a catalyst that encouraged schools to add technology. Even in a low-income school district -- about three-fourths of students in Midland are eligible for free or reduced-price lunches -- educators are finding ways to help students get more access to technology. Many aggressively apply for grants. Midland is getting help from a $306,000 federal Technology Challenge Grant, $180,000 over three years in Link-to-Learn grants, some state reimbursement for renovations and other grants. One of the challenges of providing access is trying to even the playing field between students who have access to computers at home and those who don't. Some districts are experimenting with allowing students to take computers home, or opening the schools after hours for students and the community so they may use the computers or take classes. For this fall, Midland purchased 25 laptop computers for teachers as well as 35 laptops to be shared by about 60 seventh- and eighth-graders who will be able to take them home. Using grant money, Aliquippa in Beaver County will choose five students and two teachers in each grade 7 through 12, train them throughout the year and permit them to take home a conventional laptop computer worth about $1,800. Equipment and training will cost $193,000. That averages to $4,595 for each of the 42 students and teachers. ''It's going to increase the awareness in the classroom and in the home,'' said Roger Havey, administrative assistant in Aliquippa. ''We've been in communications with a few other school districts about establishing a laptop community where students can interact with other students.'' Some districts are hesitant to invest in conventional laptops because of the risk of damage, loss and theft. And that concern has some looking for lower-priced laptop computers that are designed for schools. Franklin Regional in Westmoreland County this year will begin using DreamWriters, a student laptop that has a generic word processing program and can operate a full school day without being recharged. The machines can record a student's work on a floppy disk. They can travel between rooms on a charging cart, and no special electrical connections are required in the classroom. For each of its schools, Franklin Regional spent $7,000 for 20 machines and a recharging cart. But the machines don't have a CD-ROM drive, Internet access or a modem. Sam Shaneyfelt, Franklin Regional director of instructional services, said, ''It did exactly what we wanted it to do. We wanted portable writing labs that we could move in and out of rooms very easily.'' Another variation is the StudyPro, which about 15 schools nationwide are beginning to use. Greater Latrobe is considering these laptops for use in junior high schools but hasn't made a decision. Made by NetSchools Corp., the kidproof laptop comes as part of a package that includes software -- such as Windows 95 -- and wireless networking. It uses an infrared beam to connect to access points in the ceiling, which are installed as part of the package. The company also provides access to Internet sites compatible with the school's curriculum. To keep moving parts at a minimum, it has no floppy, CD-ROM or hard drive, but it does have a solid state disk and a modem. To reduce theft, it must be ''refreshed'' regularly at school or it won't work. The total package costs about $2,000 to $2,200 per student, said Tom Ferguson, manager of hardware requirements for NetSchools Corp. Greater Latrobe Superintendent William Stavisky said the system would cost about $2 million for all 1,000 students in seventh- through ninth-grade to have a StudyPro. By comparison, Stavisky estimated it would cost about $1.75 million to provide five conventional personal computers -- along with wiring and related furniture -- in each classroom. Those computers would offer more features, but they couldn't be taken home like the StudyPros can. Last semester, Woodland Hills was among the school districts that began using Sony Playstations and allowing children to take them home to connect to a television set. These video game machines can play math and language arts exercises on CD-ROMs. While the Playstations alone cost about $150 each, the first year of the program -- including training, equipment and software -- cost Woodland Hills about $400,000 for 400 first-graders. ''A lot of our kids do not have technology in the home. How do we get technology into the home in the cheapest possible way?'' said Woodland Hills spokeswoman Vicki Fassinger. She said a school survey showed that 83 percent of the teachers thought the software helped to reinforce the students' learning in math and language arts. One of the risks of choosing equipment is predicting technology trends. Joseph Marrone, director of technology and information services at Quaker Valley, says he prefers not to buy the very latest technology before other districts try it. ''If you're on the cutting edge, you're usually bleeding, and you're bleeding green,'' he said. Some schools are investing in video equipment, such as Elizabeth Forward, which has wired its schools with a complete network for data, voice and video. Live, interactive videoconferences and classes can be held from or broadcast to any room in the district. Equipment -- including a microphone and a videocamera that follows a speaker's movements -- can be moved into any room. While the system isn't completely operational yet, Superintendent Paul Mueller said it will permit teachers to develop lesson plans, including editing video, and present them to classes. They can also do staff training without traveling or let more than one building hear and talk to a guest speaker. ''We are now removing any of the barriers of any walls and physical distances,'' he said. For about $10,000, South Fayette School District will use ''webcasting'' this school year. This means they'll be able to broadcast programs over the Internet, including videos from teacher's lessons, in-service training, athletic games and other events, said superintendent Linda Hippert. Many districts are hoping some of their bills will be paid by the ''e-rate'' program designed to help schools and libraries connect to the Internet. The Federal Communications Commission has placed fees on telecommunications companies, which pass them along to customers. Schools and libraries initially expected to receive $2.25 billion this year under the program, but that was reduced to $1.275 billion. Now, while all applicants will get discounts on telecommunications charges and Internet access, only the most needy will receive money for external connections and other expenses. The grants are to be awarded this fall. Pittsburgh public schools have applied for $2.8 million this year. The city schools are embarking on the first phase of a three-year, $25 million technology plan. About 2,200 computers are being installed at 30 schools for this school year. But beyond the hardware, Rick Wertheimer, city school technology coordinator, said the district is creating technical support teams of at least seven people at every school to receive 90 hours of training. ''We are building a human infrastructure and a human support mechanism,'' Wertheimer said. He said this will help students to use the technology in ''appropriate, powerful manners and not trivial manners.'' In the Duquesne City School District, the bulk of a $375,000 federal Technology Challenge Grant will be used for training. ''It doesn't do us any good to have the newest form of technology if we don't have people capable of using it,'' said Mento. The nearly completed, $14 million Duquesne Education Center includes state-of-the-art technology for the low-income district, thanks to various grants. ''We feel once we get it opened and once we get everything in place that we will be able to compete with the haves,'' Mento said. Next: After-school programs fight for funding
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