WAVE 3 TV Louisville, KY | Southern Indiana school gives laptops to all students

Southern Indiana school gives laptops to all students

By Elizabeth Donatelli - bio | email
Posted by Charles Gazaway - email

CHARLESTOWN, IN (WAVE) – Often, technology advances faster than education, but one southern Indiana high school is trying to buck the trend. It is the first school in the state to pilot this program, which has turned the students in many cases into teachers. 

“I believe that today will mark the day of change and be a historical moment for the city of Charlestown,” said Bob Hall, Charlestown’s mayor.

Charlestown High School is the first in the state to give laptops to each teacher and all 671 students. They are insured at $12,000 each.

“You just have to be confident that you know how to use it and you just have treat it like it's your own, like you paid the money for it,” said senior Karli Davidson who was one of the first to get one.

Davidson is what they call a digital connectors. She and several others have been learning ahead of time how to use the computers and numerous software programs. They will be creating an Internet TV show and learn how to produce commercials. The digital connectors will even go out in the community teaching seniors how to use the Internet and helping small businesses and organizations design websites.

“It teaches you how to be a leader and how to show people how to do things,” said senior and digital connector Blake Hall.

By November 4, each Charlestown High student will have his or her own laptop as part of the only one-to-one computer initiative in the state.

“If more students learn how to use them and everybody learns how to use them, we'll all be on the same playing field as those in other countries who have already had this technology,” said Davidson.

If students or teachers have a problem with the computer, the school is setting-up a help desk in the library staffed with teachers and students throughout the school day. 

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