Garden County Schools Laptop Initiative
One Student-One Laptop
August 06, 2008
During this upcoming school year, Garden County High School in Oshkosh, Nebraska will take a significant step toward promoting and integrating 21st Century Skills. On Thursday, August 21st at the GCHS Open House, the school will also be hosting a Parents’ Night and Student Orientation for its laptop initiative. At that time, each junior and senior student will receive a personal laptop computer to use throughout the school year. This one-to-one initiative is a culmination of several years of study, planning, and commitment on the part of the staff, administration, and school board.
After a full year of staff development, GCHS is excited about launching this One-to-One Initiative, knowing that it will provide our students with a multitude of new opportunities to learn. Because technology is such a fundamental part of our students’ lives, Garden County Schools’ administration, school board, and faculty believe that it is imperative students learn to successfully utilize technology as a tool for learning. A One-to-One Initiative enables every student to have equal access to the benefits of that technology, effectively leveling the academic “playing field” and supporting the district's mission "...to develop individuals who will meet the challenges of a global community."
In preparation for this initiative, the high school installed a Cisco Wireless Enterprise Solution this summer, creating the perfect wireless environment for the anticipated extended laptop use by students and educators. While only the juniors and seniors will actively participate in the laptop initiative, Garden County High School is in essence a “one-to-one” school. The continued use of the computer labs and remaining desktops in every classroom provide our freshmen and sophomores with additional and more efficient time for computer use and technology integration.
