Web 2.0 and Mini-Laptops: A Winning Combination

What are “mini-laptops”? AKA “netbooks” Barebones laptops Minimal memory Low cost ($300-$500) Slightly smaller than a standard laptop Wireless Primarily designed to run web-based applications

AKA “netbooks”

Barebones laptops

Minimal memory

Low cost ($300-$500)

Slightly smaller than a standard laptop

Wireless

Primarily designed to run web-based applications

What is Web 2.0? Applications you can run in a browser No software needs to be installed You can access from anywhere Examples Wikis, blogs, social networks, document sharing, shared multimedia

Applications you can run in a browser

No software needs to be installed

You can access from anywhere

Examples

Wikis, blogs, social networks, document sharing, shared multimedia

The winning combination? Low cost = one-to-one This transforms how technology can change the learning process.

Low cost = one-to-one This transforms how technology can change the learning process.

Considerations – Instructional goals What do you want to accomplish? Start there and then think about everything else. Examples

What do you want to accomplish?

Start there and then think about everything else.

Examples

Considerations – Software Should flow from your instructional goals Examples Traditional (practice, notes, writing, etc.) Transformational (etextbooks, online courses, student-generated content) (differentiating instruction)

Should flow from your instructional goals

Examples

Considerations – Hardware Should flow from what type of software and applications you’re planning Memory needs Peripherals (web cam, etc.) Batteries Screen size Cost

Should flow from what type of software and applications you’re planning

Memory needs

Peripherals (web cam, etc.)

Batteries

Screen size

Cost

Major Hardware Vendors Asus eeePC Dell Latitude Acer Aspire Lenovo HP Others

Asus eeePC

Dell Latitude

Acer Aspire

Lenovo

HP

Others

Considerations – Infrastructure Log-ins and student email accounts Wireless Room configurations Computers need to be on student desks. Power Batteries Charging

Log-ins and student email accounts

Wireless

Room configurations Computers need to be on student desks.

Power

Batteries

Charging

Thanks for attending! Karen Fasimpaur K12 Handhelds [email_address] Licensed under CC BY. Share, remix, learn. Laptop photos courtesy of Acer, Asus, Dell, and MSI.

Karen Fasimpaur K12 Handhelds [email_address]

Licensed under CC BY.

Share, remix, learn.

Laptop photos courtesy of Acer, Asus, Dell, and MSI.