[RightField]

She also said there isn't much evidence to support the theory that computers will help students improve academically

Oh, I don't know ... Use of laptops will undoubtedly increase proficiency in language skills, just like dependence on calculators in elementary and middle schools has increased proficiency in mathematical skills. < /sarcasm >

[CFC__VRWC]

She also said there isn't much evidence to support the theory that computers will help students improve academically

Sure they will - the kids will be able to find their favorie porn sites so much quicker now.

[Bruce Kurtz]

I teach electrical engr tech at a local community college in upstate NY. When I ask the class a simple addition of 12 and 15 I see most of the class reach for their calculator. As for math in high school, they call it something like Math 1,2, and 3. I think they now call it A, B & c (I did not go to HS in NY). It's a smorgasbord of math topics that includes Alg, Trig, Geo. mixed into every math class. When I ask incoming students if they had trig, most of them don't know.
But going back to Laptops in the classroom, we will be doing this in the fall. I already teach classes with laptops (non wireless) integrated into the program. But only have the student bringing the laptop to the lab and not to the lecture. In the fall we go wireless, which means the students with laptops in the classroom can now send email to each other and play interactive games.
Other problems are security of the laptops, students tend to lay their books and other stuff on a bench or chair, then go play hackey sack or whatever, and return minutes later to find their books gone. With laptops, the disappearance will be a lot faster.
Are laptops useful in classrooms? Maybe in an English class where they have to write papers in class. They are sometimes useful in my labs for simulations, but for my classroom they are more of a distraction.

Bruce Kurtz

[Woahhs]

Oh, I don't know ... Use of laptops will undoubtedly increase proficiency in language skills, just like dependence on calculators in elementary and middle schools has increased proficiency in mathematical skills. < /sarcasm >

Don't jump to conclusions so fast. Advanced mathematics was a whole new world for me once graphing calculators freed me from worrying about the "grunt work." I actually learned what the hell was so special about Cartesian coordinates!