Manson Northwest Webster Junior/Senior High
Coming in 2010-2011 - Laptops for Every Student in Grades 7-12
Beginning in the 2010-2011 school year, every student and teacher in grades seven through twelve will have a laptop computer, making possible new dimensions of inquiry learning through interactive, digital communications.
For decades, education has been an easy institution to define. It consisted of a set of accepted skills, a definable body of knowledge, and the strategies for teaching those skills to willing students who were arranged in straight rows. Today, for the first time in decades, we are facing the challenge of changing our notions about teaching and learning to adapt to a rapidly changing world. There are many challenges ahead as we prepare our students for the 21st Century. We are having to rethink what it is to be educated and redefine what it is to be a teacher and a student. Being successful in future will certainly involve the ability to read, write, and do basic math. However, the concept of success in the 21st century will be far richer and more comprehensive than the 3 Rs. Accessing, processing, building with, and communicating information will be important skills for the future.
A laptop, as a piece of technology, is only the beginning. One-to-one computing aligns with MNW’s Vision for Teaching and Learning to actively engage all students in real-world, relevant, and academically challenging experiences, preparing them for post-secondary education and the workplace. At Manson Northwest Webster, we believe the integration of technology enhances learning by increasing knowledge, skills and the ability to think critically and apply new learning in real-life situations. With this in mind, teachers and students will be using the laptops as tools to access content, to meet instructional needs, to collaborate, to communicate and to assess progress as they move through the MNW system. The laptops are not for the purpose of substituting the teacher with a computer, but for the purpose giving teachers and students a tool to improve learning. It is an exciting time in education and Manson Northwest Webster is committed to meeting the needs of all learners and preparing them for the world beyond our K-12 system.