[MLTI-MS] FOR IMMED. RELEASE: Gendron, Baldacci Hail Results of Laptop Study

[Juanita Deschambault]

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> N E W S  R E L E A S E
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> Maine Department of Education, Susan A. Gendron, Commissioner
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> REPORTERS AND EDITORS:  The principals listed below are willing to  
> speak with reporters, give you an opportunity to observe a class  
> using laptops, and connect you with teachers and/or students  
> willing to be interviewed.  All three schools are doing great work  
> with laptops and have the improved writing scores to support that.
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> Falmouth Middle School, Principal Jeff Rodman, 781-3740
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> Nobleboro Central School, Principal Mark Deblois, 563-3437
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> Lamoine Consolidated School, Principal Val Perkins, 667-8578
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> FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – October 24, 2005
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> Contact:   David Connerty-Marin, 624-6880/831-3313
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> Gendron, Baldacci Hail Results of Laptop Study
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> Use of laptops in curriculum results in greater writing achievement
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> AUGUSTA – Education Commissioner Susan Gendron and Governor John  
> Baldacci hailed the results of a study released on Tuesday that  
> offers, for the first time, quantifiable data showing that the use  
> of laptops in classrooms improves learning.
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>
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> The Maine Education Policy Research Institute (MEPRI) at the  
> University of Southern Maine released today the results of a study,  
> “Maine’s Middle School Laptop Program: Creating Better Writers.”   
> The study shows that the Maine Learning Technology Initiative has  
> had a clear and significant positive impact on student writing  
> achievement.  In fact, twice as many students met “proficiency”  
> standards in writing in the highest-laptop-use group as compared to  
> the lowest-use group.
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> Maine has been a leader in the deployment of laptops and learning  
> through technology – all eyes around the nation have been on Maine,  
> and an important question to be answered was whether or not laptops  
> are having the desired impact on learning. MEPRI conducted the  
> study at the request of the Legislature. The study is the first in  
> a series aimed at evaluating Maine's first-in-the-nation laptop  
> program.
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> Gendron said the report shows promise for the future of technology  
> in supporting the learning of 21st century skills.
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> “The days are gone when our kids could learn math and reading and  
> go out into the world and be successful,” Gendron said. “Whether  
> going on to a four-year college, or to a job in an automotive shop,  
> our students need problem-solving skills, the ability to research,  
> experience working in teams, and other critical 21st century  
> skills. This study shows one way in which students are improving  
> learning through the use of technology.”
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> Gov. John Baldacci, who has supported the laptop program, as well  
> as the effort to expand the program into high school grades, said  
> the report validates the anecdotal evidence we have been hearing  
> from teachers, principals, students and others.
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> “Since the implementation of the laptops initiative, we have all  
> wanted to know what kind of impact they would have on student  
> learning and achievement,” Baldacci said.  “Until now, we have had  
> only anecdotal evidence of success. For the first time we have  
> proof that laptops make a difference in learning, and we also have  
> quantifiable support for students’ and teachers’ belief that  
> laptops make a difference in teaching and learning.”
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> The report by Dr. David Silvernail will undoubtedly be viewed  
> closely both here in Maine and nationally as other states continue  
> to watch Maine closely because of its nation-leading efforts in the  
> implementation of 1-to-1 laptop use and Maine’s incorporation of  
> laptops into the middle school curriculum.
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>
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> MEPRI plans to conduct additional research on the impact of laptops  
> in the future.
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> Here are some of the key findings of the report:
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>
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> Use of laptops and a technology instructional program contributed  
> to significant improvement in writing scores for eighth graders  
> from 2000 to 2005 (laptops introduced in 2002).
> An average student in 2005 scored better than approximately two  
> thirds of all students in 2000.
> In 2000, only 29.1 percent of eighth-grade students scored at the  
> proficiency level. In 2005, the percentage increased to 41.4  
> percent of eighth-grade students meeting the MEA writing proficiency.
> Students who used the laptops in all phases of the writing process  
> scored the highest on the MEA writing test. In fact, twice as many  
> students in the highest-use group as in the lowest-use group met  
> proficiency (43.7% compared to 21%).
> Writing scores improved for all students – regardless of the MEA  
> test medium, i.e., online versus longhand.  Laptops in classrooms  
> helped students become better writers in general, not just better  
> writers while using laptops.
> Over 80 percent of the teachers report that the quality of their  
> students’ work has improved since the implementation of the laptop  
> program.
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> The MEPRI report can be accessed online at: www.usm.maine.edu/cepare.
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>
> David Connerty-Marin
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> Director of Communications
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> Maine Department of Education
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> Tel: 207-624-6880
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> Cell: 207-831-3313
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> Fax: 207-624-6601
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> E-mail: david.connerty-marin at maine.gov
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>
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