SRI International and EDC Study of Largest District-Based Laptop Computer Initiative Demonstrates Benefits of "One-to-One Computing'' in Schools

Teachers and Students in Henrico County, Virginia Credit Laptops for Improvements in Learning

MENLO PARK, California - June 22, 2004 - An overwhelming majority of teachers and students in grades 6-12 in the Henrico County, Virginia public school district reported positive impacts of laptop computers, according to a study released today by SRI International and Education Development Center, Inc. With 25,000 laptops provided to students and teachers, the Henrico County program is the largest "one-to-one computing" initiative in any district in the U.S. Results from the study will be presented at the National Education Computing Conference (NECC) in New Orleans on Wednesday, June 23 from 10:30 - 11:30 a.m. in room 355 of the Morial Convention Center.

In one survey conducted as part of the study, 97% of mathematics and science teachers reported that the computers have helped students to learn these challenging subjects, and 59% report that the laptops have helped "a lot" or "a great deal." Also among the study findings:

-- Teachers report that the laptops have had "positive" or "very positive" impacts on both gifted students and students with learning disabilities as well as on typical students

-- More than 80% of students reported that it is "helpful" or "very helpful" to have a computer to use for their schoolwork.

-- Teachers report that the computers have had "positive" or "very positive" impacts on students' engagement and interest levels, the teachers' interactions with students, and on students' ability to work independently.

"The survey results and site visits we conducted in Henrico County provide strong evidence that the initiative is working to strengthen teaching and learning of mathematics and science in the district," said Raymond McGhee, Ph.D., the research scientist at SRI International who directs the study.

As part of the study, which is funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF), researchers interviewed and conducted focus groups with more than 100 students, teachers, parents, and administrators. According to one teacher, "The benefits to students are amazing. The fact that they can see animations on the laptops and see things happening just makes it so much better than a two-dimensional model."

One school principal expressed that the laptops were especially beneficial for at-risk students. About 25% of the 43,000 students in the district, located near Richmond, are eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, a common measure of student poverty, including far higher proportions at some schools.

A separate survey conducted for Henrico County by FGI Research reinforced the SRI-EDC findings, showing for example, that the great majority of teachers, parents, and students support the Henrico County initiative, with 86% of thousands of respondents wanting the County's high school laptop initiative to continue.

District support has been particularly strong. In fact, teachers report strong support by the district for maintaining the computers and related equipment, including the wireless Internet network in each middle and high school. The district also offers extensive professional development to help teachers integrate laptops into instruction. For example, more than 75% of the mathematics and science teacher respondents report taking a technology workshop during the academic year, while 64% report taking a summer workshop. The district also licenses software and Internet resources useful for teaching and learning in various subjects.

"The study shows that Henrico County has provided teachers and students with the supports they need to make the laptop initiative work," said Andy Zucker, Ed.D., of Education Development Center, Inc. (EDC), who co-directs the NSF grant. "The very positive findings from research in Henrico County, and from related research in Maine, where every 7th and 8th grade student and teacher has a laptop, show that one-to-one computing is feasible on a large scale, and that teachers, students, and parents recognize its value," said Zucker.

A full report of the study will be available later this summer.

About SRI International

Silicon Valley-based SRI International is one of the world's leading independent research and technology development organizations. Founded as Stanford Research Institute in 1946, SRI International has been meeting the strategic needs of clients for more than 55 years. The nonprofit research institute performs contract research and development for government agencies, commercial businesses and private foundations. In addition to conducting contract R&D, SRI International licenses its technologies, forms strategic partnerships and creates spin-off companies.

About EDC

Education Development Center, Inc. (EDC) is an international nonprofit organization, building bridges between research, policy, and practice. Its award-winning programs and products, developed in collaboration with partners around the globe, consistently advance learning and healthy development for individuals of all ages. Today, EDC manages 335 projects in 50 countries. Its work strengthens nearly every facet of society, including early child development, K-12 education, health promotion, workforce preparation, community development, learning technologies, basic and adult education, institutional reform, and social justice. Learn more at www.edc.org.

About the NSF Grant

SRI International's research in Henrico County is supported by grant #REC-0231147 from the National Science Foundation. The three-year, $1.1 million grant is to evaluate the impact of ubiquitous computing in K-12 classrooms. SRI International is teaming with EDC and with other leading institutions in the field to create and maintain an active network of evaluators and to develop a common framework for understanding how desktop, laptop and handheld computers are currently used in mathematics and science education. A Web site developed under the grant provides more information about 1-to-1 computing (http://ubiqcomputing.org). (For additional information about the grant see http://www.sri.com/news/releases/02-03-03.html.)

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