A netbook is basically a stripped down version of a more powerful laptop computer. They have some limitations and they will not be able to do all of the same things that a laptop can do but they are very small, portable and inexpensive which makes them great for students, corporate travelers and anyone that needs portable computing capabilities. Students especially can benefit greatly and there is an important role for netbooks in education.
The Benefits of Netbooks in Education
Netbooks presents a wonderful opportunity for schools to get their student to computer ratio to the magic 1 to 1. Spending a short period of time in any school that does not have a 1:1 computer ratio, you quickly realize the main frustration of teachers in the school when it comes to computer usage.
Every school hears the call from teachers for more access to computers. Why then do they want access? Our experience has been so that they can have their students doing assignment work. This often entails online research and typing of documents. For this reason the netbook is a wonderful choice for school laptop programs.
Practical Uses of Netbooks in a Classroom
One of the greatest uses for netbooks in education is simply taking notes in class. A lot of students can type faster than they can write with pen and paper and having a netbook allows you to take notes very quickly. It is also very easy to erase any mistakes or reorganize your notes later. Netbooks are lightweight and small enough to easily fit into a backpack and they don’t take up much space on the little tiny table you have in a lecture hall.
In addition to taking notes a netbook will allow students to give presentations or complete homework assignments in a way that is faster and easier than using pen and paper but a lot less expensive than using a laptop or desktop computer.
Choosing the Best Netbook for Your Money
They are wonderful tools and although they are inexpensive it is still important to do your due diligence so that you can find the best machine at the best price possible.
There are a lot of different makes and models of netbook computers on the market today. Having a lot of choices offers its own set of pros and cons. With so many choices picking the right one can be difficult and confusing. However, with more choices and more competition comes the opportunity to save money by finding a netbook that has the features you need at a price you can afford.
The best way to find a netbook that has the features you are looking for at the best possible price is to conduct some research online. The Internet allows you to virtually visit a number of retailers very quickly so that you can compare what they have to offer and how much any particular option is going to cost you.
Another great thing about doing your comparison shopping online is that you can also see user reviews for any netbook you are considering purchasing. User feedback is very valuable because if a high percentage of people are saying that a particular model is having a lot of issues you can steer clear of that one and choose something a little more reliable. If most of the reviews are positive you can be relatively certain that it is in fact a good product that is worth investing your money in.
Limitations of Netbooks in a Classroom
There is an important role for netbooks in education, as they are great tools offering users a very portable and very inexpensive way to complete a number of daily tasks. However, netbooks certainly have their limitations. While Netbooks can solve a lot of problems that many teachers have in their desire to have students researching and typing, it will not extend, engage or see a return on investment in their learning outcomes if the curriculum does not recognize IT as merely an end to a means. Introducing netbooks into this situation won’t improve learning. What really matters is quality teaching. Netbooks cannot educate the kids; only teachers can do that.
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