Our 1:1 laptop initiative began in the 2002-03 school year when the school board provided laptop computers for all high school teachers and we opened a new technology-rich high school (Hidden Valley) with numerous laptops, including take-home 1:1 units for all ninth graders in that school as well as students enrolled in the specialty center program for Engineering located at Arnold R. Burton, our school for alternative learners, and students involved in homebound instruction for medical reasons.
For the 2003-04 school year, the program was expanded to provide laptop computers for all ninth grade students in Roanoke County and piloted with tenth graders at Hidden Valley High. In 2004-05, we expanded to all tenth graders and eleventh graders at Hidden Valley. The School Board has allocated funding for 2005-06 to expand to an additional grade level. The Director of Finance for Roanoke County Schools has been a key player and had worked closely with us to develop creative financing plans to allow the program to grow.
The 1:1 laptop initiative is at the heart of our technology program. We envision up-to-date, state-of-the-art interactive curricula to meet the diverse needs of all our high school students. An e-learning coordinator works with subject area coordinators to facilitate curriculum development of electronic content and training for teachers. Basic content is provided via Blackboard® and teachers are encouraged to supplement with specific materials developed for the students they teach. We recognize the power of technology as a tool to bring instructional opportunities to the classroom that were not possible using traditional teaching methods. We utilize streaming video, electronic subscriptions to resource material, and a plethora of online resources. The online curricula is available to our students on a 24/7 basis.
Our interest in providing online course material grew from a desire to better meet the diverse needs of students involved in homebound and alternative programs. We quickly realized that having the ability to always have updated resources and utilize the technology for collaboration and communication would be beneficial to all high school students in Roanoke County and would help us meet the challenges presented by No Child Left Behind. Teachers, students, parents, and administrators all collaborate to make this program a success.