While Minnesota college students routinely head for class with their laptops, many Minnesota high school students are still trying to bring technology to their reluctant high schools. However, as in other states, the tide is shifting as K-12 students begin showing up at school with laptops, netbooks, iPods and ever-fancier cell phones.

At Eastview High School in Apple Valley, MN, for example, laptops — as well as cell phones and other gadgets — are allowed in class for approved educational purposes. "If you have (a laptop) in class and you're typing notes, fine," said assistant principal Rob Franchino. "If you have it in class and you're playing a game, not fine."

Eastview High hopes to launch a pilot program for about 150 students that would explore the use of home computers in the classroom. Teachers in the program would invite — but not require — their students to bring laptops to class to take notes, do research and complete some assignments online. Students who don't own laptops could use school computers, and Eastview is talking to businesses about setting up discounts for students who want to buy their own.

Edina High School and Stillwater Area High School are two other Minnesota high schools that allow students to tap into the school's filtered wireless network with their own laptops.

Source: SouthernLINC Limiting the Web by Sarah Lemagie