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The Benefits of the Laptop

Amanda Wynn:
For me, the laptop computer has been extremely useful. As a basic skills tutor, working in the community, I am able to take this evening class and offer it’s use to the students in the class. The adults are keen to use the laptop as many do not have computers at home. It is an opportunity for then to type their work instead of writing it in the normal manner. It has a ‘spellchecker’ which is invaluable and it is very rewarding when they can see their work in print once it is complete. This appeals particularly to students who are not happy with their handwriting. It is also very easy amend any spelling mistakes and rewarding for them to see their article look clean and tidy. For those working towards their ‘wordpower’ accreditation, it is helpful and gives experience of generation original work on matters that they find of interest.

There are a variety of discs that the students can use, with both still and moving pictures, sound and text. This enables complete beginners to be able to create and print pieces of illustrated writing. Students can have fun whilst learning by using a ‘game disc’ which can help with vowel/consonant blends, spellings through ‘Wordsearch’ and so on.

The laptop benefits both adults and children I also work as a family literacy/numeracy tutor in local schools and find it a valuable teaching aid in the classroom. I am able to take it along to each school, for both parents and children to use.

The children love to work on the computer and having to control the mouse aids their co-ordination. Not all parents have computers at home and therefore it is a great opportunity for them to have this access for those who feel frightened of using computers, soon feel at ease, as they are so user friendly. This is definitely a confidence booster.

Personally, I find the laptop useful because of the wide range of facilities that it has. It is very adaptable: re-charges quickly, enabling me to work wherever I am. It can be linked to a scanner, printer and has internet facility, for me the uses are extensive.

Dictated by Helen Bennewith - Basic Skills Student at Hoo Evening Centre:
While being at Basic Skills, I use the laptop computer to help me with my ‘wordpower’. I type things up to present them nicely. It helps me with my spellings and grammar.

I would love to take it home so I can be more independent and do my work at home. My computer is a little older. I like this opportunity to be able to use this laptop as there is limited laptops to go around students.

I think it’s sad that other students are unable to have access to learn more on laptops.

In the Gillingham/Rainham area the two laptops have been used in the community since the Autumn term. One laptop is being used at Pump Lane Evening Centre to support all three Basic Skills classes there. It is being primarily used as a resource for writing up work and extending knowledge/practice of basic computer know-how. The internet facility has not been used yet as there is no dedicated phone line that we could use.

The second laptop is for use on the Family Literacy/Numeracy projects as appropriate. The tutor uses it regularly to support the literacy students who have been writing up nursery rhymes on it for a book they are making as part of a project. Again, the internet facility has not been used because of problems over a telephone line for it.

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