With the changes in district policies regarding internet usage, the futures of related technology, such as laptop carts, have been called into question. The school library currently stores two carts of 24 netbooks that the school purchased a few years ago using funding from the educational bond supporting technology. According to library media teacher Susan Marks, most departments — notably modern language, English and math — have used the carts in the past. However, she notes that teachers generally prefer using the desktops in the library when the option is available.

“[The laptop carts] are more challenging to use than desktops,” Marks said. “If not shut down properly, the battery drains, and things get uninstalled, so we have to reinstall everything.”

The laptops don’t have enough memory to retain data much memory and do not provide students with many programs beside the basics, such as Microsoft Word and Internet Explorer. In recent years, however, there has been a huge improvement to the laptops’ overall speed while surfing the web, which Marks credits to upgrading the wireless networks. Still, Chen believes the laptops are a greater hindrance than an improvement.

“Laptops help with learning because … you have this tool where you can go onto websites for animations,” Chen said.  “But with the computers we have now, the computer quality makes that hard to happen in class.“

The science department circulates its own set of laptop carts. separate from the ones stored in the library, in order to help with science experiments and research. Biology teacher Pamela Chow uses the carts three times a year in order to allow internet access to her AP classes during virtual labs and major assignments.  Chow has never had a bad experience with the carts, and enjoys their benefits.

“If I had to relocate the entire class to the library for part of the period and then come back, it takes extra time,” Chow said.  “Having a laptop option is really nice for me because it means we can transition more seamlessly from one activity to the next.”

On the other hand, social science teacher Hilary Maxwell believes that the desktop computers in the library are a more efficient use of class time.

“Laptop carts take time to log on and log off, they kind of get bogged down,“ Maxwell said. “It’s also easier for students to get in and out of desktops.”

Although teachers may have different opinions on the desktops and laptops, neither will be removed from school soon. Marks explained that even though the rebuilding of a new cafeteria will also include plans for two new computer labs, the school receives enough funding to continue giving teachers the option of keeping laptops in their rooms. Since there is currently no other portable technological option, Marks believes the school will continue maintaining the laptop carts and keeping them as long as possible, even when the cafeteria renovations have been completed.

Maxwell acknowledges the benefits of keeping the laptop carts even though she sometimes finds them difficult to use. She appreciates having both desktop computers and laptop carts to use.

“Honestly, I think we’re really fortunate to have them because I think that a lot of schools don’t have access to labs and to online research,” Maxwell said.