Teachers want more laptops in class, says Intel

A survey of more than 2,700 teachers in 15 countries worldwide has shown that while 70 per cent of educators believe their students should have access to a laptop computer in class, only three per cent of their students currently have such a computer.

The survey, conducted by processor manufacturer Intel and presented at the Bett education technology show in London, also found that 76 per cent of teachers surveyed in Europe think their governments should be doing more to support computer access for students.

Just under a third of those questioned said that a lack of funding was preventing the required investment in computers.

Although the cost of laptops computers has been driven down in recent years, specialised models designed for education tend to cost more. Intel's own Classmate PCs currently cost approximately $300 to $500, although the costs will be lower for bulk purchases.

The price of laptop technology is likely to fall further, but Intel claims that governments can do much to reduce the cost of computers in education in the interim. Intel's Lila Ibrahim pointed to large-scale purchase schemes such as one in Portugal where the government acquired 500,000 Classmate PC in one school year.

"Governments can do a lot, such as tax incentives," she told Computeractive. "There are real programmes happening worldwide, and it's taken government leadership - it's taken things like asking how we can offset the cost.

"Additional computers for students can, in the end, aid economic development and social stability and create job opportunities and a stronger economy," she said.

She also warned that introducing more technology into classrooms will r equire more than simply purchasing more computer hardware. "The technology itself is just a piece of it. The PC and the internet are required, but then you need the training on how to use it," she said.