Well let's ponder this for a moment and this is at this time a theory, speculation or hypothesis. It may be close to being accurate, specially the cost of the computers while other parts are conjecture.
First let's look at what we are paying now. We have desktop computers in the district that are antiquated with CRT (cathode ray tubes, look like TV's), monitors and on average those units draw around 700 watts to operate (base systems can use from 300 watts to 600 watts depending on the processor, graphics card and so on), while the monitors draw around 300 watts to 450 watts (again the type, size of the monitor) we'll average this to 700 watts of power needed to run the each computer in the district.
We have 1000 computers (approximately), which then are drawing 700,000 watts of power to operate. Impressive. That's a lot of power.
Now if we go out to bid with several manufacturers, we can probably get a good price on Netbook and Notebook computers (now tech guys, I know the keyboards are small but I would recommend you use a conventional mouse and a plug in USB keyboard, even I hate to type on those little keyboards, however they are great for the students).
Now with 2200 students in the district, we would need 1500 Netbooks for K-8. Now I would not give out netbook computers to the K grade so that would leave me around 150 spare netbooks for those that fail for a variety of reasons.
We have 700 students in the high school and they would receive the Notebook computers that have a little more power.
We go to the manufacturer and we get them to put in bids and this will create a price war among those who would like to sell their systems to the district. We could get netbooks utilizing Solid State hard drives (this means no moving parts in the machine to wear out).
These machines (netbooks), will run for 9 hours on a single battery charge. Most would only be used for 5 hours a day. Once home the student can plug into commercial power while they use it and have the battery recharged for the next day.
Now if we can get a good price on these netbooks, say $250.00 a piece, you would spend $450,000.00 to outfit all the students from grades 1-8.
If we can get a good price on the Notebooks for grades 9-12 for around $450.00 a unit, our cost would be $315,000.
Netbooks and Notebooks to outfit every student from 1-12 would cost us $765,000. This is withing reach. The cost saving of power for the current computers in the district could probably pay for this.
Now lets go back to the wattage the district approximately uses. Remember we are consuming approximately 700,000 watts. Well the netbooks that have 9 hours of battery life will use 0 watts a day of school power. Yes that is zero. They are running on battery and do not consume any power at all.
The Notebook computers will require around 95 watts per machine. 700 units multiplied by 95 watts equals, get this, 66,500 watts of power. We would save 633,500 watts of power daily over what we are currently using. The computers would pay for themselves in a very short period of time.
Now, if we invest in the same software they use at Ecotohio.org and incorporate it into the district (I would guess that may cost us $200,000.00 and I could be way off on this so just suppose), the total cost to us for the computers and software would be $965,000.
Not a bad cost.
Now the software restricts students to the curriculum and the districts browsing restrictions. No Facebook, No YouTube and No Myspace. Computer use is restricted where the students could go for it uses a proxy server to restrict this movement.
All textbooks would be digitized and updated periodically throughout the school year as information is changed. This gives us up to date information the students will be accessing.
We would not have to spend money on textbooks, no student would be without one and every student would now have their own personal tutor both at school and at home.
Could it get any better?
Now computers in this way will not and should not replace teachers. Plus we do not want students working on them constantly throughout the day. They are their to enhance the teachers expertise in teaching, provide the teacher with materials the students can instantly access, open up the students ability to become global giving them the ability to communicate with students in other schools in the U.S. and throughout the world, give them the ability to confer with experts in a wide variety of fields and become part of global learning.
Students will become easier to manage in the district, this will allow us to increase class sizes for much of the tension will be gone in managing larger classes and since the computer is a tutor for all students, we would be able to eliminate virtually all those employee positions. An additional bonus cost savings to the district.
Increasing class sizes also gives us the ability to reduce the size of the teaching Staff and the Administrators.
The computer will provide the ability for children to discuss information they have found in their research and make class a more interactive adventure for all. They would generate excitement in learning.
Children can do their homework right on the system and have it uploaded automatically when the log into the district or be done right on the server. This also will provide the teacher with information as to how long the student actually put into the project assigned and also show teachers the areas where students are struggling or having difficulty understanding a particular course.
Review: savings in power consumption, savings in textbooks, savings in staff, savings in tutors savings in administrators, increased interactivity both nationally and globally, access to experts in particular fields, ability to provide a personal tutor to every student, easier reporting, easier testing, easier accountability and many other items too numerous to mention.
Why are we doing this?
This could probably save a school district 4 to 5 million a year in operating costs. This will give us the ability to provide a higher wage to the lower staff count, and reduce our need for so many administrators.
It will take maybe 2 or 3 years to adapt and fine-tune the process, however, savings can be experienced almost immediately along with at least a 10% to maybe 20% improvement in test scores the first year alone.
So why are we not heading this way? What is the holdup of schools adopting this type of teaching method? We are struggling to obtain funds to support the schools and the economy is not much help at this point.
Within the next few years the district will be at a 10 million dollar deficit and this can be avoided by just computerizing the district. If the technology is here, the pricing is here, and the digital textbooks available why are we practicing education that is cost prohibitive.
Because we are willing to pass levies that give the Administration and School Board a cushion that allows them to avoid moving into the digital age.
The computers will not replace teachers. They will only enhance the teacher's ability to teach. Used properly and productively the children will receive an education like they never have before.
Just a thought.
Martin Fleming