ASUS EeePC pilot project has graduated to a supported option

Last year, we ran a pilot project using the ASUS EeePC 2G Surf "mini laptop."

Our pilot projects last year were so successful, that this year we are adding the ASUS EeePCs as a supported project in our schools. Oregon Middle School's Technology Committee chose to purchase 30 ASUS EeePCs instead of the desktop computers originally slated for replacement. OMS already has a wireless network, so the new mini-computers should work well. We are continuing to issue them as unmanaged, Linux-based, application-specific devices. The plans are to use them mainly for web-based research and word processing in classrooms. Students at OMS are required to bring their own USB drive as a basic school supply, so they can save their work on them.

Oregon High School is purchasing ten EeePCs to use in English classrooms through a GT grant. The goal is to alleviate the contention for computer lab time by giving word-processing units to English classes.

Rome Corners Intermediate school, purchased nine EeePCs through building funds to be used by one of our very innovative teachers. They are the answer to the teacher's long-standing desire to provide more information access to her students. Conventional laptops were cost-prohibitive, but the low price of these allows the school to purchase them.

Each of our three elementary schools has purchased one or two of the EeePCs to check out to teachers, and some special education teachers at the high school have also purchased one or two computers to use with the students they serve.

We are collaborating with other districts to find better ways to manage and support these devices. They appear to be very promising, and we look forward to being able to provide them on a broader basis where they meet a specific need.