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-- OriginalOwner_ [tinyurl.com] writes:

from the no-more-dead-trees dept.

The Peterborough, New Hampshire Ledger-Transcript reports [ledgertranscript.com]

The ConVal School District [convalsd.net][1] will provide every middle school and high school student a Chromebook laptop by the 2017-18 school year, as textbooks, homework, and lessons all go digital.

[...]Administrators couldn't emphasize enough how essential it is for students to move out of the "print, paper world". [...] The U.S. Department of Education found students that had access to a computer anywhere, anytime "became more creative, more collaborative, and better writers", while University of Kentucky researchers wrote "improvements in writing, literacy, science, exam scores, and GPAs all have been noted in various research studies".

[...]The district will buy the Chromebooks over three years. [...] There are already 266 Chromebooks in use at the middle schools and high school. To implement the one-to-one model, the district first must upgrade the technology infrastructure of the three schools in 2016-17. [...] It would then buy 662 more Chromebooks in 2017-18.

[...]The dean of faculty at the high school, said money will be saved not having to buy newer versions of textbooks.[2]

[...]Administrators have considered either buying insurance for each device at $20 to $25 a year, or a student and their parents becoming responsible for paying to fix or replace the device if it is damaged. [...] The district also hopes to make arrangements with its member towns and libraries so if a student lacks Internet access at home, it can use the WiFi at municipal buildings.

[1] Another case of Doesn't Degrade Gracefully; Black text on a black background in the HTML styling.
[2] It appears that the district is still using digital versions of traditional textbooks rather than using an Open Knowledge model.

Original Submission