For the Love of Laptops!

Is the once sizzling technologysuddenly cooling off? A summerconference suggests it is.

The Laptop Institute conferencehas a distinctly sober theme thisyear: “Laptops at the Crossroads:Re-evaluating and Rethinking Oneto-One Initiatives in K-12 Schools.”

Laptops are at a crossroads? When did this happen? Just minutes ago, the sleek machines were on every school official’s wishlist. Yet technology does evolve in minutes these days, and the idea has indeed been floated that tablet computers may be showing laptops the door, a notion tied to thisvery conference.

That might be an overstatement; the laptop is alive and well, but facing a transition. The Laptop Institute’s Web site says this year’s conference (July 16-19 at the Lausanne Collegiate School in Memphis) will focus on the “growing pains of existing laptop programs” as the technology emerges from “the honeymoon phase.” The newness of laptop program rollouts has passed. The emphasis has turned to evaluating the success of the programs and deciding on future paths.

“Are laptops impacting student learning as we expected?” the site asks. “What will laptop programs look like in the years to come as emerging technologies and teaching philosophies compete? Are we sharing our successes with the powers that be (boards of trustees, district officials) to ensure support and finances for the road ahead?”

The Laptop Institute was founded seven years ago, and is a think tank for schools using or considering laptops as a tool for learning.

Featured

  • digital learning resources including a document, video tutorial, quiz checklist, pie chart, and AI cloud icon

    Quizizz Rebrands as Wayground, Announces New AI Features

    Learning platform Quizizz has become Wayground, in a rebranding meant to reflect "the platform's evolution from a quiz tool into a more versatile supplemental learning platform that's supported by AI," according to a news announcement.

  • red brick school building with a large yellow "AI" sign above its main entrance

    New National Academy for AI Instruction to Provide Free AI Training for Educators

    In an effort to "transform how artificial intelligence is taught and integrated into classrooms across the United States," the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), in partnership with Microsoft, OpenAI, Anthropic, and the United Federation of Teachers, is launching the National Academy for AI Instruction, a $23 million initiative that will provide access to free AI training and curriculum for all AFT members, beginning with K-12 educators.

  • stylized illustration of a desktop, laptop, tablet, and smartphone all displaying an orange AI icon

    Survey: AI Shifting from Cloud to PCs

    A recent Intel-commissioned report identifies a significant shift in AI adoption, moving away from the cloud and closer to the user. Businesses are increasingly turning to the specialized hardware of AI PCs, the survey found, recognizing their potential not just for productivity gains, but for revolutionizing IT efficiency, fortifying data security, and delivering a compelling return on investment by bringing AI capabilities directly to the edge.

  • Abstract AI circuit board pattern

    Nonprofit LawZero to Work Toward Safer, Truthful AI

    Turing Award-winning AI researcher Yoshua Bengio has launched LawZero, a nonprofit aimed at developing AI systems that prioritize safety and truthfulness over autonomy.