According to the State Journal Register, schools in the Riverton and Auburn districts of North Carolina are slated to receive new personal computers for designated classes. The educational technology will be provided by a $400,000 federal grant, and the main purpose of the devices is to raise state test scores.
"I think [the netbooks] are going to make a huge difference. What I'm most excited about is teachers are changing their instruction," Julie Timm, the district's instructional technology professional development coordinator, told the local news provider.
To ready teachers for the new devices, the districts recently held training seminars, reported the media outlet. Once they become technologically proficient, educators may elect to pair the netbooks with other educational technology tools, such as an e-reader, an interactive whiteboard or a
DLP projector.
In all, the initiative is expected to empower learning for more than 700 students. Each netbook will cost around $350.
"The computer is just a tool to keep the kids engaged and to give them more real-world learning experiences," Timm told the State Journal Register.
