SOUTH SIOUX CITY, NE -
From checking e-mail at work to chatting with friends on Facebook, how often do you, or your children, use computers every day?
Now students in South Sioux City are taking technology to the classroom, with a few new computers that are set to take teaching, and learning, into the 21st century.
"This is the new paper, this is the new pencil, this is the new book," said Lance Swanson, Technology Director for South Sioux City Schools, as he was holding a tablet computer.
Wednesday more than 200 South Sioux freshmen were being handed their educational future: a new tablet computer.
In 2012, the school is launching a one-to-one computer initiative, at a cost of more than $1.5 million.
Each and every high school student, more than 1,000 of them, are getting brand new computers.
"We have to continue to keep learning," said High School Principal Ed Akins. "And that's what our technology does, it allows us to constantly keep learning."
Schools officials hope that style of learning engages students, helping them find the answers even when they're not at school.
"There may not be somebody at home to help them, but they have resources now that weren't available." said Akins. "When I was in school if my dad couldn't solve my math problem I had to wait until the next day, well now we have our computers."
But how do the students feel? Is using a computer better than just staring at a teacher?
"I think it's a lot better," said Tiffany Becerra, after she got her new tablet computer Wednesday. "Just watching the teacher can be quite boring."
It won't be long before students get to use those new computers in the classroom, because all South Sioux City students will be back in school Friday, August 15th.
