Laptop Initiative

Laptop Purposes and Benefits

The purpose of the Brigham Young University-Idaho laptop initiative is to increase the quality of the student experience by providing better access to network resources and online learning opportunities.  Students will be equipped with better tools to learn, communicate, organize, and complete assignments.  In addition, expenses will be reduced over the long term as students have more access to less expensive learning material.  By incorporating the laptop initiative into the BYU-Idaho educational experience, students will be better prepared for lifelong learning and employment in the information age.

Improve student learning.  The initiative will enhance collaboration and group learning; improve class preparation, research, homework, and study; and facilitate better organization, planning, and scheduling.  Additionally, a student's proficiency and quality of work will be increased while preparing them for the workforce.

Incorporate technology into the curriculum.  Foundation courses are currently being developed, along with other curricula, that have greater emphasis on technology and digital resources.  The laptop requirement allows these possibilities to take place both in and out of the classroom.

Broaden access and increase flexibility.  If every student brings a laptop to class, any classroom can become a laptop lab.  Instructors would no longer be tied to the limited availability of computer labs.

Encourage internally developed course materials, reference libraries, and resources.  Faculty will be increasingly encouraged to publish digital resources to supplement and facilitate learning.  In some cases, these resources may entirely or partially replace the need for textbooks.  E-textbooks will become an optional replacement for heavy and expensive printed versions.