Computers, with rare exception, have amplified “income inequality”, in that they make smarter people more capable, and the...uhhh...”less smart” less capable. Even FR is a mixed bag, a time-suck, although it may have improved my writing and critical thinking skills. Perhaps it’s sharpened my wit.
Anyway, this school really, really should have used the Internet and consulted the best practices that a business would have maintaining a fleet of equipment. I’ll bet that instead, they gave $xxxx extra to the social studies teacher to help run the show. The article describes mistakes that a for-profit company would NEVER have made.
First thing, each student should have been made aware that having one was a “shared responsibility”.
I wouldn’t say that computers have helped anybody because for all people, regardless of their abilities, a computer hinders the immersive aspect for all learners. It may be easier to deal with if one is highly visual or auditory, because for a visual or audio learner the most important need to learn is to see or hear the material.
Somebody who is a kinesthetic learner, regardless of his ability, would be at a disadvantage because can’t use his modal of learning to learn.