One-to-One Laptop Program

A boy sits on the upper school campus working on his laptop

Adults see technology as information and communication, and children view technology as entertainment and an avenue for social networking. How do schools manage this cultural divide?

The start of a One-to-One Laptop Program brings the issue into sharper focus and forces communities to address the wide gulf between adults and children in the area of technology.

Nueva launched its laptop program in 2007 to provide for differentiation, perpetual access, equity, and increased visual and auditory components to support learning. Moving to a one-to-one laptop program is not only about enhancing teaching and learning in an academic setting, it is also about being open to the online world of students and being ready to deal with the social landscape that forms such an integral part of their lives.

The program has enhanced teaching and learning, and has embedded computing technology into the core curriculum. Each student in grades 6-12 has their own MacBook laptop with an impressive software package, including access to the entire Adobe Suite (with Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Acrobat Pro, Flash, Premiere, and more) and Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Outlook). Through the use of computing technology, we begin to transform the entertainment or gaming perspective so prevalent in students into a mature, more productive and creative paradigm.

Online Ethics & Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)

A teacher counsels a student. The two of them sit across a table with two MacBook laptops on top of it.

As our technology platform provides great opportunities, Nueva's Social and Emotional Learning program uses this environment to educate students on becoming knowledgeable and discerning digital citizens. The SEL team’s multiyear approach educates students on online behavior and to develop both a code of ethics and sense of self-control.

As early as third grade, the SEL team starts to discuss, explore, and teach ethical concepts, digital-collaboration guidelines, and healthy online habits. In addition to the SEL team, the technology-integration specialist covers ethics with Lower School students.

The Technology Office also covers ethical behavior with entering Middle School students in orientation classes for grades 5-6. In addition, we help guide our students in their use of laptops via the Acceptable-Use Policy for Laptops (pdf). The school is very mindful of its responsibility to teach and model good technology practices.