July 2008 — Case Studies
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Middle Schools : Maine : Laptops for All
Economically disadvantaged students who used their laptops extensively while writing outperformed their economically advantaged classmates who wrote without the aid of laptops.
In mathematics, for the past two years, Maine has been studying the impact of technology-infused professional development on helping teachers improve students' pre-algebra skills. Using a randomized control trial, a group of teachers were provided comprehensive face-to-face, technology-based professional development activities designed to improve their own content and pedagogical knowledge as well as their skill in using the laptops for math instruction.
The performance of the students of this experimental group of teachers was far better on the state's math achievement test than the performance of the students belonging to a control group of teachers who did not receive professional development. However, students' improved scores were dependent on whether or not their teachers' own content knowledge had improved, and whether the teachers used instructional strategies and assessments that were aligned with the achievement test.
Data on the laptop program has also revealed some critical components that play key roles in the success of MLTI. These include strong administrative support, ongoing professional development, the use of laptops as instructional tools to facilitate learning, and the matching of instruction with assessment.
Research is continuing on MLTI's impact on teaching and learning, as well as its impact on student achievement. To facilitate this work, former Maine Gov. Angus King, who initiated the laptop initiative during his term in office, led a successful effort to create the Maine International Center for Digital Education on the campus of the University of Southern Maine. The center will be devoted to advancing the work of using technology to advance learning.
David L. Silvernail is director of the Center for Education Policy, Applied Research, and Evaluation at the University of Southern Maine.
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