School board considering laptops for students

To promote greater learning, the Hemet school board in Hemet, California, is considering distributing laptop computers to its students, according to a recent Press Enterprise report.

The goal is to create custom lesson plans for each student. If the school board approves the plan, 2,500 laptops will be given to elementary students, as well as docking and charging stations for the machines. According to the report, software will also be provided to determine how well each student understands a particular subject.

"The hope is to have it ready by the fall," said superintendent Steven Lowder. "Everyone is pretty jazzed about it."

The Hemet school system currently has an average classroom size of 28 students. If implemented, each class will receive seven laptops, allowing teachers to help students working with textbooks, while other students use the machines.

With all of the hoopla regarding tablets putting a dent into PC sales, IDC expects the market to rebound in 2012, due to several reasons, including new operating systems, designs, services and more appealing prices stimulating sales.