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School Gets Cool with New Technology
By Cody Truesdale
University of Northern Colorado Communications Intern and Aurora Central Graduate
  When grade school kids back in the early 1990’s used school computers, it usually meant they stared at a monochrome screen and played “The Oregon Trail.”  Nowadays, the kids at Sable Elementary play with stuff that’s a little more technologically advanced - laptops.
 

With the help of Aurora City Council member Renie Peterson, Sable received two new laptops for its growing mobile computer lab.
 
Internal view of Sable's mobile laptop cart.
A closer look at one of Sable Elementary's mobile laptop labs.
  The mobile computer lab gives Sable students access to technology, research and publishing, along with more access to student tools.  Teachers can reserve the lab at any time for their classrooms.
  Robert Waples of Rural Metro Ambulance donated one of the new laptops to the school, while Carl Nelson and Jay Schneiders of Pulte Homes gave the school a donation of $1500.  The school used the donation to buy the other new laptop.
  Sable had already purchased 10 laptops for its mobile lab through part of a $225 million bond issued to APS to improve schools throughout the district.  Aurora voters approved that bond in 2002.
  The students have already used the laptops purchased through the bond dollars.  According to former Sable principal Ivan Durán and current principal James Scott, the kids love the laptops. “Students really enjoy the hands-on aspect of these laptops. It opens a whole new world for them."
 Robert Waples of Rural Metro Ambulance and Aurora city council member Renie Peterson deliver laptops to Sable Elementary principal James Scott.
Robert Waples of Rural Metro Ambulance (left) and Aurora city council member Renie Peterson deliver laptops to Sable Elementary principal James Scott.

Petersen goes to different schools within her ward and asks schools what they need.  The schools then provide her with a wish list, and she works to grant it.

As well as the laptop and the $1500 she helped Sable receive, she has also assisted in raising $3500 for North Middle School and $4233 for Hinkley High School.
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  “I tell everyone I meet about this special project. When I finish with one then I go on to another.  I want to make a difference in our community.”
- Renie Peterson
Aurora City Council Member 		 
   
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All the laptops in the mobile lab are connected to the internet via a wireless connection, which allows students to access the internet from anywhere in the school.
The ratio of students to computers throughout APS is currently 4-1.  Durán and Scott pointed out that Sable has, with the mobile computer lab, taken a small step in trying to reduce this ratio.
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