Toshiba's Notebooks for Schools program combines commercial quality, full-functioning Toshiba notebook computers with industry-standard Microsoft® Office Pro Edition software, other appropriate productivity software, a choice of Network Interface Options, a suite of Toshiba utilities, a custom-designed carry bag, and direct access to program-specific technical support for both school personnel and parents and students.*

The package is specially priced and made available to public and private schools to allow both faculty and students 'anytime, anywhere' access to global information and computer productivity.

Toshiba continuously evaluates opportunities to add products that increase the value of the NFS bundle.

Notebooks for Schools, or NFS, is Toshiba's program identifier for portable computer bundles developed specifically for elementary, middle and secondary schools located in the United States. (The Student Notebook Access Program, or SNAP, is Toshiba Australia's program equivalent.) Anytime, Anywhere Learning (formerly Learning with Laptops) is Microsoft's program identifier for their 'anytime, anywhere' vision for learning. Both programs seek to provide the same benefits.

In School: The NFS bundle delivers the same productivity gains that corporations and professional organizations around the world have realized for years. In addition, students become more engaged with the learning process and find new excitement in the search, organization, and presentation of thoughts and ideas. Difficult concepts are made visual as students explore the range of possibilities presented by access to spreadsheets, databases, word processors, and on-line information services. Mundane research, editing, and preparation tasks are streamlined allowing students to more fully develop meaningful content, and to more fully realize the true essence of learning. In many cases, educators are seeing significant increases in self-esteem and decreases in absenteeism as students from widely diversified backgrounds now share learning experiences enhanced by the computer. This sharing occurs not only with classmates and schoolmates, but also with a truly worldwide class of peers and mentors.

At Home: Parents typically become more engaged with their child's learning. In some cases, the NFS computer becomes the home computer, allowing all family members to benefit from present-day technology.

In the Community: School districts, neighborhoods and entire communities have been brought closer together to help deliver anytime, anywhere learning. From increased collaboration between faculty and staff, to establishing community-wide sources for funding, participants in Toshiba's NFS program are realizing a variety of benefits that reach far beyond the walls of the traditional classroom.

ROCKMAN, ET AL, an independent research group, undertook a study to explore the experiences of the participating NFS schools during the pilot year and second year of program implementation.

The traditional school computer lab cannot provide the same unlimited personal access to information, data assessment or data presentation. Student access to traditional labs is generally limited. Some students are granted only minutes per week while other students have no regular access to labs or classroom computers. Learning is limited to class time. Students must have access to a home computer to complete homework assignments, and, while many do, the majority still does not, or home computers are different platforms or dated technology.

Two recent studies, one conducted by the University of South Carolina for the Beaufort County AAL/NFS implementation, do conclude that, when appropriately integrated into curriculum, student use of computers does improve test scores.

However, having 'anytime, anywhere' access to a computer is no more directly related to improving test scores than having access to an encyclopedia, a pencil and a sheet of paper. Improved test scores are the result of learning, and true learning depends on an engaging delivery of appropriate curriculum, an understanding and utilization of concepts, and an enthusiasm for the process. Participants in the NFS program have consistently seen enhanced engagement, improved understanding and increased enthusiasm in both teachers and students. Undoubtedly, the full impact of 'anytime, anywhere' technology-enhanced learning will be demonstrated over time.

Different schools have used different methods of funding an NFS program. A wide variety of financing models exist, including grants, leasing, renting, and outright purchase. The ideal model is the model that best fits the needs and resources of school and the community. Toshiba recommends that parents and/or students participate in the cost of the program either through outright purchase, through personal lease, or by renting the unit from the school or purchasing authority. This personal investment significantly increases the sense of value, and tends to more fully engage the parent in the child's education.

Schools must agree to purchase the NFS 'bundles' for program participants only. The degree of implementation must be decided by each individual school or school district and may be implemented by class, by single or multiple grade level, or throughout a school or district. Most educators agree that students who have completed at least the 3rd grade will benefit most from an NFS implementation. To date, most participating schools have not implemented below the 5th grade, although many are now considering 4th grade implementations. The ideal implementation is the one that best fits the vision, objectives and goals of the school or school district.

The most successful implementations have been carefully planned and supported from the highest levels of the organization. Teacher support is critical, and experience shows that it is far more important to implement initially where teachers understand the concept and are comfortable with the technology. Parents must be engaged from the beginning, and best models allow for flexibility in levels of participation. It is nearly universal that students are engaged from the very introduction of the program and need little, if any, encouragement to participate.

The notebook computer and software become nothing more than a toolbox very much like the pencil box that students from a different age once carried. The NFS toolbox is an enhancement to the delivery of curriculum; it enriches and helps the user visualize concepts and applications. It reduces the amount of time dedicated to mundane tasks, and provides more time for engaged learning.

Teachers are free to use the computers as little or as much as they wish. When the computer can enrich or enhance the lesson, teachers will use the computer. When it is time to practice other skills such as handwriting, teachers will continue to rely on more traditional methods of curriculum delivery.

No. Access to a classroom, school-wide, or district-wide network will enhance the capabilities of the NFS bundle, but having a network is definitely not essential. Similarly, access to on-line information sources is extremely beneficial, but not essential. All NFS computers ship with connectivity tools should Intranet or Internet access be available.

A panel of public and private educators helps Toshiba establish base-line levels of equipment capabilities, and these change from time to time. Accordingly, NFS bundles are announced four times each year to take maximum advantage current technology and best pricing. A school's selected reseller determines actual selling prices. Suggested selling prices for current bundles are posted on the Toshiba Education Web site.

More than 10 years of program history on two continents has demonstrated that students take excellent care of their 'computing companions.' They recognize the value that computers bring to their lives, and understand that care equates to access.

Computers do, of course, get broken. Toshiba strongly recommends notebook insurance to significantly defray the cost of non-warranty repairs, and to help replace the computer in the event of loss. Likewise, Toshiba strongly recommends a committed relationship between the school and a nearby computer dealer and service provider.

Having made the commitment to proceed, school officials may contact the Toshiba Education Center (1-888-62-LEARN) to obtain information, locate potential dealers, connect with Toshiba Financial Services, Toshiba Easy Loan, or purchase NFS bundles.

Local dealers can provide a wealth of benefits to any school considering any type of technology implementation. Through their own purchasing power and depending on the services requested by the school, a local dealer may have the ability to effectively compete with a 'buy direct' selling price.

Service options do have associated costs, but schools should carefully consider the value of these small increases relative to their potential value. Dealer-provided options can include acting as an implementation consultant, reviewing purchase options, setting up a training process, installing additional software and accessories, coordinating delivery, helping establish an internal 'help desk,' and acting as a one-stop source for repair.

Any necessary physical changes would relate directly to the school's vision for implementation. At a minimum, schools must consider storage options for computers while students are at lunch or on the playground. They should also consider methods for providing power to charge the computer's batteries and some degree of internal technical support to help diagnose software or hardware problems. Access to printers is beneficial, although not completely necessary as many teachers and students share work via disk. Network access is not critical, but can significantly enhance the value of an implementation.

If the parent or student is the owner, the computer goes with the student. Depending on the purchase plan selected, parents may buy out the lease, continue making payments on the lease, or may buy the computer from the owner, lease holder or dealer. If the school owns it, the student must return the computer.

Reliability and Leading Edge Technology: Pioneering schools have explored a variety of portable computing options and have ultimately selected Toshiba. Known for their reliability and leading-edge technology, Toshiba notebooks are the world's best selling notebook computers.

Program Experience: Toshiba is the only company having more than 10 years experience with this type of program on two continents. Based on the highly successful Australian SNAP model, NFS offers a finely tuned program featuring notebook computers of exceptional quality, a wide selection of related accessories, competitive pricing, and a variety of support options.

Unique bundle solutions: The NFS bundles offer many "Toshiba-only" accessories and features such as edgate.com - the Nation's K-12 Home Page, a free subscription to schoolkit.com and a custom designed carry bag.

Program-specific Sales and Service Reps: Through the Toshiba Education Center, schools can connect with a specific representative who knows and understands their unique nature and program. No other hardware vendor offers this degree of personalized service.

Service and Support: NFS participants are provided with no-charge toll-free technical and software support for both school-based personnel and parents and students.

Toshiba's NFS bundles have been developed from the recommendations of public and private educators. Since NFS bundles are announced four times each year, we can take full advantage of improvements in technology and offer best pricing. This frequency of release also allows us to include new hardware and software options as they become available.

Toshiba is fully committed to deliver 'now' technology to NFS program participants. Nothing is scaled down or 'less than' because, "they're only kids!" NFS units are the same high quality, fully featured notebook computers offered to demanding corporate and retail customers. The most current bundle descriptions and suggested selling prices can always be found at Toshiba's Education Web site or by calling the Education Center at 1-888-62-LEARN.