Laptops as Litmus Test

In 1996 Microsoft funded an initiative to lease laptop computers to schools across the country. But the stereotype of destructive urban youth led to just one class at one public school in New York City being picked to pilot the Program: Janice Gordon '92's sixth-graders at Mott Hall School Washington Heights.;

"It was ironic," says Gordon who started teaching at Mott Hall as a volunteer with" Teach For America and stayed on after that two-year stint ended. "The only thing I knew about computers was using them at Dartmouth. And I was a Spanish major. But here was this fascinating way to unlock these kids and give them ways to learn.: They said it couldn't happen, but my students took to it like fish to water."

From her 20 students with 24-hour access to 20 laptops, she program has skyrocketed to a thousand students across the city. Gordon led the training of their teachers as she found methods to integrate computers and the internet; into their traditional curriculum. Bill Gates visited her classroom in March, saying. "Schools need great teachers like Janice."

So do other countries. In September Gordon moved to Bermuda to implement that nation's laptop learning program. "I'm going to miss my students." says Gordon whose family comes from Jamaica, "but we're going to keep in touch ami do projects together. You see, now they can't imagine school/without a computer."

Gordon, Center, brought computers to the inner city.