Westlake College in Virginia will start a laptop computer program allowing students to study schoolwork anywhere they want. Within five years, each of the 1500 students at the college will receive a laptop. The laptops are a part of a $10 million computer program at Westlake. Students with laptops will also have access to the Internet.In addition, they will be able to use e-mail to “speak” with their teachers, classmates, or families.However, the most important part of the program is that students will be able to use computers without going to computer labs. They can work with it anywhere they like!
Because of the many changes in computer technology, laptop use in higher education is workable. As laptops become more powerful, they become more similar to desktop computers. In addition, portable computers can connect students to not only the Internet, but also libraries and other resources. State higher education officials are studying how laptops can help students.
At Westlake College, more than 60 percent of the staff uses the computers. The laptops will allow all teachers to use computers in their lessons. As one Westlake teacher said, “Here we are in the middle of Virginia and we’re giving students a window on the world. They can see everything and do everything.”
