CHAPTER 1 The World of Computers
The Trend from Labs to Individual Laptops Within a few years the college and high school PC laboratory may be a thing of the past. There is a growing trend toward requiring students to own a notebook PC that can be linked via a wired or wireless connection to the school's network/Internet server. The personal computer is emerging as an essential classroom tool just as the calculator was in recent years and before that the pencil and tablet. The PC, however, is far more robust with applications in virtually every classroom. Currently the trend is primarily in private high schools, but some public schools are encouraging students to own the notebooks, as well. Of course, there is concern about funding for notebooks that can cost a thousand dollars or more. Schools requiring notebook PCs are attempting to address this issue with financial aid.