Laptops/Netbooks for ICS' 1:1 Program 

As has been announced before, ICS will be embarking on an exciting 1:1 laptop program in the secondary school starting next year. Phasing in over three years, ICS will eventually have portable laptop computers for each student in grades 6 through 12. This will enable students to use computers for research, work, creation, communication, and collaboration anywhere and anytime.

In the 2010-2011 school year, we will issue laptops to students in grades 6 and 10. The following school year, we will also issue to students in grades 7, 9 and 11, so that grades 6, 7, 9, 10 and 11 will have laptops to use. The following year, in the 2012-2013 school year, all students in grades 6-12 will have laptops. After field testing several models of laptop computers with teachers and students, we are purchasing grade-level sets of the following laptop computers for use in the 2010-2011 school year:
For all students in Grade 6 in 2010-2011 school year: 2go PC Convertible Classmate PC NL2 10” Netbook A convertible tablet netbook – with touch screen and tablet capabilities www.2gopc.com Manufactured and sold by Computer Technology Link www.ctlcorp.com

For all students Grade 10 in 2010-2011 school year: Acer Aspire One AO532h 10” Netbook A lightweight netbook without tablet or touch capabilities, but with a 10 hour battery life. www.acer.com

After analyzing options, we felt that these two netbooks would meet the needs of students and classes, provide options for Middle School students and teachers to test out tablet and touch-screen capabilities, and be affordable options for ICS. If any parents of students who will not be issued laptops next year would like to purchase these or other models of laptop computers for students to use, we are happy for students to bring their own computers in to work on. The use of computers in classes other than the targeted grades will not be required, and computer use in class may be restricted by teachers as needed, but students will be able to use personal computers either in class or during study/break times.
We are happy to discuss any questions or comments that parents may have about our 1:1 laptop program.

More detailed information will be posted on the ICS website soon.