Students in this program have a high quality personal laptop computer that they use in their classes, their dorm rooms and their homes.  They participate in special laptop classes that take place in wired classrooms with network access at each student desk.  Incoming freshmen with majors in CES or AAH are sent notification of the program in the spring.  Those who choose to participate attend a special orientation session during their normal freshman orientation.   During this session, they are given their laptop course schedules.  They are also given instructions on the ordering and receiving of their laptops as well as advice on such matters as security, insurance, and extras (backpacks, mice, printers, etc.).  The software project load is explained and August workshops are scheduled for the purpose of configuring the laptops with software and drivers.

In the two days before classes begin in August, we host workshops in wired classrooms for laptop students.  During these workshops, students receive project load CDs.  They put the CD in their laptops and reboot.  Seven minutes later, all of the software that they will need is installed on the laptop - cleaning everything they already had on there.  We then walk them through putting in network settings and sending/receiving their first email.  They are introduced to WebCT and the campus network.  Additionally, we offer an extra workshop for the less experienced students who may need extra help in getting started.

In the first two years of the project, there have been special laptop sections of English, math, computer science, chemistry, physics, history and engineering.  Students are block scheduled into those classes so students who do not have laptops cannot enroll.  In 2000, classes will also be offered in speech and Spanish.

In order to facilitate support, we select a project machine each spring for the following fall.  In 1998, the selected machine was a Dell Latitude CPi.  In 1999, the selected machine was a very compatible Dell CPt.  The 2000 machine will also be a Dell CPt.  On-campus support and warranty repairs are available.  Students with non-project machines are allowed to use them.  However, because of the level of support for the project machine and the attractive group pricing, most students do chose to use the project laptop.

In the first two years of the program students have reported many successes and a few disappointments.  They love having the same computer all of the time - having the same computer in their classrooms, in their dorm rooms, and at home on breaks.  They become very attached to their laptops.  Many of them never have any problems at all with their machines.  However, some have had broken parts - probably due to the heavy load placed on them by having 18 year old owners who take them everywhere.  In those cases, we are able to repair them at our campus help desk where we stock spare parts and spare machines.

Another common problem with Windows based machines is that they will 'overload' them with software such as games, music, utility programs, etc. and end up with registry problems.  This problem is easily resolved by using  project load CD to refresh their computers - restoring their hard drives with all software and drivers.  Students are usually able to back up their personal files on our campus network before doing this.

When the students are asked about their classes, they typically rave about their laptop English classes.  In the first two years of the program, all students involved had majors in the College of Engineering and Science.  These were students who typically do not enjoy English.  However, nearly all of our laptop students said that they loved their laptop English classes.   The laptop English professors were able to assign topics that involved technology and they enjoyed that much more than their previous English classes.  They also enjoyed the creative projects that the English classes used.  They did such things as learn to use the campus bus system, visit the botanical gardens, help with a Habitat for Humanities house, participate in communicons, and collaborate with engineering and math classes.

The students also seemed to enjoy their laptop physics, chemistry, and engineering classes.  The results in the computer science class were a bit mixed.  The professor reported that some students enrolled in the class without proper preparation.  During the first year, the students were less enthusiastic about their math classes.  They struggled with the calculus software package we used.  In the second year, the problems with that were successfully resolved by the math faculty.

During the planning phase for the first year, it was decided that a web based course tools package would be chosen for laptop classes.  WebCT was selected and was installed on a new server.    Training was offered for faculty members interested in using it.  Some of the tools offered included online grade posting, grade book, quizzes, surveys, bulletin board, course notes, chat room, groups with file posting, and whiteboard.   Soon faculty were putting up their own password protected full featured web sites.  Since there would be no additional cost, WebCT was opened to any faculty in the university who wanted to use it.

The university has provided laptops to 10 needy students in each of the first two years.  It is expected that in 2000, laptops will be provided to 10 needy CES students and 5 needy AAH students.

Overall, the pilot laptop program has been very well received by students and faculty.  Students have enjoyed sharing the laptop experience within a relatively small group.    Faculty have enjoyed learning new ways to teach using technology.  We have learned a great deal in two years and gladly share our experiences with others contemplating a similar experience.  More information can be found on our web site at http://www.ces.clemson.edu/~laptop.