Orange High School has just rolled out its fourth round of laptops to year 9 students, with this latest round of computers being described as the most sophisticated yet.

The laptops have made a significant impact on the classroom environment, according to Orange High School principal Maree Angus.

“They are certainly making a difference to learning,” she said.

“What’s really changing is the teaching.

“Over the years, the first lot of teachers weren’t as [competent] as the kids were with the technology, but now they’ve certainly become a significant part of digital learning.”

The laptops have allowed schools to share learning resources such as texts and multimedia, while the $6-7000 worth of programs installed in each laptop have allowed students to access another dimension in their education.

Ms Angus said a video-making program was a popular tool the students and teachers used on the laptops.

Many of the programs have been refined and the exteriors made stronger on this latest round of laptops, following feedback from the past three years of the DER program.

However, a major advantage of the laptops extends beyond the classroom.

“For me, the biggest bonus is the equality they create for kids,” Ms Angus said.

“They are able to take them home with them and have access there as well for their homework and studies.”

The DER is a $1.2 billion scheme that was introduced under the Rudd government in 2008 for a period of five years.

Students from years 9 to 12 are eligible to receive a laptop, which they may unlock from a filtered system and keep for themselves.

They are typically handed out to students while they’re in year 9.

erin.somerville@ruralpress.com