Calgary school goes digital by providing laptops for its students

A Calgary school is welcoming the 21st Century by becoming the first Alberta public high school to go digital, providing laptops for its students.

Bishop Carroll High School has spent the better part of a year getting 300 laptops, the necessary software and its curriculum digitized, along with $150,000 worth of technology to make the school a wireless hotspot.

Surprisingly, it was the parents who pushed for the learning with laptops program.

“We have computers at home and I am involved in a very technologically advanced company where I work and it’s just the way it will be from now on” says Carolyn Pinsent, mother of Jolene, a Grade 10 student who attends the Catholic High School.

The program will start with the 10th graders this year and the school plans to become fully integrated within 3 years. Although Principal Dan Danis says the program is optional, he doesn’t see technology replacing anything, but rather, enhancing everything.

“Our main program here is learning with laptops. It’s not so much the tool, it’s about learning and the tool is going to help us similarly to a paper and pen.”

Michele Jacobsen from the University of Calgary’s Department of Education has been researching the use of laptops in the classroom for three years. She hopes every high school in Alberta joins the digital movement sooner than later.

“I don’t think we can design effective learning environments anymore without the technology. Students need access to good content, they need access to each other through technology and teachers also need access to each other through technology, because teachers also need to learn every day that they go to school as well.”

Jacobsen says the biggest concern is providing every child with a laptop and supporting professional development. Bishop Carroll says the price is $25 a month for each student; however, no student will be denied access and the school will work with families who have tight budgets.

Most importantly, the move is a popular one with the school’s students.

“I think it’s really convenient. It’s much easier to get the work done and it’s much easier to haul around than a bunch of books,” says Jessica Dams, who is beginning her Grade 10 year.

It’s expected as many as 75% of the Grade 10 students will sign on to the program. Others can bring their own laptops and plug-in at school.