Education & Human Development

Laptops in Education

Laptops in Education | Letter from Dean Pooler | Teacher Education Faculty
Laptop Specifications | FAQs | Contacts | The College & Technology

To: Incoming Students, Fall 2007
From: Interim Dean Anne E. Pooler
Re: Laptops in Education
Date: June 2, 2007

Congratulations on your acceptance into the College of Education and Human Development. We look forward to seeing you at one of the orientation sessions in June and to getting to know you better as classes begin this fall.

As you may know, the College of Education and Human Development was the first teacher preparation program in the state to require that students working toward Maine teacher certification have a laptop computer and specific educational hardware as part of their tools for learning.

With Maine public schools wired for Internet access and laptops provided to seventh and eighth graders and their teachers through the Maine Learning Technology Initiative, the state has made the commitment to build technology-rich classroom environments and instruction for its public school students. We have made the commitment to give UMaine students a competitive edge as they prepare to enter the teaching profession.

In approving the laptop policy for education majors enrolled in the College, our Teacher Education Faculty chose Apple MacBook as the computer and software best designed to fit the professional education needs of aspiring teachers and to link them to the type of technology many students and practicing teachers are successfully using in Maine schools.

We are excited about the teaching and learning opportunities our initiative will offer. As a reminder, first-year students enrolled in the College in the following programs will be required to own the designated Apple MacBook laptop when they begin classes this fall.

• Elementary Education
• Secondary Education
• Early Childhood Education (Teacher Certification Option)
• Kinesiology and Physical Education (Teacher Certification Option)

A substantial student discount on the specific MacBook computer and bundled software purchase is available through the University’s Computer Connection. The designated package updated for Fall 2007 is now available from the Computer Connection.