Journal #3 (THREE): Assessment Made Easy

Zucker, Andrew A. (2009). Assessment Made Easy. Learning and Leading With Technology, 36, Retrieved 07,24,2009, from http://www.iste.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=June_July_No_8_1&Template=/MembersOnly.cfm&NavMenuID=4333&ContentID=23577&DirectListComboInd=D

Andrew Zucker outlines the success that the Denver School of Science and Technology, a charter school, is having with its one-to-one student-laptop program. The success Zucker notes, comes from the ability for teachers to provide instant feedback because of the laptops, thereby providing more opportunity for teachers to focus on the areas that students in their classes are struggling with. Teachers are now able to focus more on the areas of weakness of the students to better help them when it comes time to take the standardized tests throughout the year. Zucker makes important note that the Denver School of Science and Technology has as 40% of its students, kids that come from low income families and that the schools takes students based on a lottery. He also notes that this program is only possible due a million dollar grant from Hewlett Packard and another donation from the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation.

Is it possible for all schools to adopt this type of program?
It is if H.P. is going to donate a million dollars to every school in the United States. This is a great program but somewhat unrealistic. It is creating great success for students at the DSST but what does this program really prove? That if you provide all students with technology that they will succeed, and go on to be accepted in a four year university? The author also does not note the enrollment numbers in his article for the DSST.

Is it possible to have this kind of success without the laptop computers?
Yes I believe it is. A school could just set up extra time for students that do not have access to a computer outside of class in its computer lab. Students also do not need laptops in the class to in order for teachers to carry out many of the lesson that Zucker alluded to, such as the teacher editing a students essay in class.