YOU don’t often hear the words “fun” and “school” come together in the same sentence from a year 5 student.
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But when it comes to using laptops in the classroom to help you learn - school is definitely fun.
That’s what the year 5 students at Bletchington Public School will be telling their parents after they each received a laptop as part of the school’s Engage to Accelerate (e2a) program.
“It’s [the laptops] actually pretty fun,” year 5 student Will Harper said.
“It’s makes learning a lot of fun and it makes school a lot of fun.”
The e2a program was designed to improve students’ engagement in the classroom by making them interested in their own learning.
Principal John Willing said there had been a positive mood within the classroom because of the laptops.
The school’s Parents and Citizens Association donated more than $30,000 to set up wireless internet for the program.
The students’ parents will also fund the project by paying around $450 over two years for the laptops, which have been set up with the latest computer software.
Eighty-four laptops were given to the year 5 students.
This will double in 2012 when next year’s year 5 are given laptops.
The students use the laptops for subjects such as maths and English or to help them find information.
Year 5 teachers Jo Penny and Melissa Murray are avid supporters of the e2a program.
“The children are excited to learn,” Mrs Penny said.
“At the moment we are learning about democracy and we have been discussing the events in Egypt.
“The children have been able to look on the internet and find out more information [about the events in Egypt].”
Mrs Murray said she had seen a huge difference in the children.
“It’s a real world to them,” Mrs Murray said.
“They are used to interacting on the computer and the internet.”
