Ames High Making Progress on Laptops for Every Student

The Ames School District is making progress on a plan to put laptops (or a similar device) in the hands of every high school student when they return next fall.

The District's Technology Director, Karl Hehr, expects to bring a purchase plan to the board near the end of May with the hopes of setting up the gadgets over the summer months.

Ames Superintendent Tim Taylor said he sees the technology as a way to increase rigor relevance and curiosity in kids. It would also change the way teachers teach, he said.

All the information is right at their fingertips, Taylor said.

“We have to teach kids to use that to their advantage,” he said.

Most recently the board discussed whether they should filter internet surfing when students take their computers home and decided to leave that as a parental responsibility.

Students who don't have internet access at home would be able to make use of wifi in the media center before and after school and the district also plans to identify sites in town where free internet access can be obtained. The Ames Public Library and areas near the Ames City Hall offer free access as well as local businesses.

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