Some parents provided assistance to others. A local bank arranged low-interest loans and some parents found similar financing through their credit unions. CompUSA also participated, offering a credit card with no interest for six months. Standardization of hardware and software is one. Access to technology is another.
Teacher training is the third.
If teachers are not comfortable with the tools, then they won't use the tools. And while teachers were definitely excited about the new program, they were also apprehensive. I thought it was a challenge for me, one that presented wonderful opportunities. The idea of using laptops without a well-proven model to follow was both exciting and frightening at the same time. To make teachers like Openshaw and Benson more comfortable with the new technology, and to inspire them to use it to best advantage in their classrooms, Ursuline developed a comprehensive training program, expanding on its existing in-service program.