The ups and downs of the hip class

One laptop computer per student: an experience neither pink nor black for 39 classes from 16 French schools. If the devices have advantages, they also bring their share of inconveniences, according to a Acer-European Schoolnet study produced last year and unveiled this fall.

We learn that 71 % of French teachers who participated in the project believe that the netbooks provided have motivated students more vis-à-vis learning and school in general, while 50 % of young people share their opinion. Also, more than 70 % of teachers think that the devices made school work more enjoyable, compared to 60 % for young people. Less than half of teachers and students found that the atmosphere had improved in class. In addition, 53 % teachers say they have observed that young people were more independent in their learning.

A positive portrait, but there is a flip side to this medal. According to the study, 78 % teachers felt that classroom management was more complex with netbooks and 68 % considered that their use increased their workload. Moreover, two-thirds complain that they did not have enough time to prepare specific activities for laptops. In addition, four out of five teachers say they have encountered technical problems of all kinds and 92 % mentioned that some devices have become unusable because they are damaged or have technical failures.

On the student side, 30 % reported that their backs hurt due to the weight of their computer (94 % brought it home) and one quarter reported that their eyes hurt when they looked at the computer. screen too long. In addition, most of the children said they were afraid of damaging it (20 % of devices were damaged!) And half were concerned that it would be lost or stolen.

Finally, two-thirds of teachers indicated that they would recommend their colleagues to use netbooks in the classroom.

During the project, laptops were used in 23 different subjects. The most popular tools were school education portals, learning platforms, blogs, social networks, wikis and bookmarks. Students used their device almost twice as much outside of school as in the classroom. And why did they use it the most at home? 57 % for studying, 26 % for going on social networks and 17 % for playing and having fun.

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