A sign of the ever-growing importance of technology in the classroom, the Illinois State Board of Education recently awarded Mount Vernon City Schools, District 80 with a $658,500 grant to purchase new laptops, KFVS reports.
According to the report, the grant was awarded through the state's Children's Low-Cost Laptop Program, and will provide laptops to all third- through -eighth-grade students and 60 teachers.
Additionally, teachers will also receive training, and the district will hire a technology coach to demonstrate how to use the technology.
Laptops have become an invaluable asset to many teachers, who use the technology to encourage student participation in lectures. The laptops can be used in conjunction with an HDTV, LED monitor or
DLP projector to help teachers reach a wider audience at one time.
According to a recent study by Cisco, the vast majority of educators believe technology improves educational development in students. In a survey of 500 education administrators and IT decision-makers, 83 percent said knowledge of technology helps students prepare for their future careers.
