Laptop computers are popular all over the world. People use them everywhere. They connect people to their work place. In the United States today,laptops also connect students to their classrooms.
Westlake College in Virginia will start a laptop computer program allowing students to study schoolwork anywhere they want. Within five years, each of the ] 5OO students at the college will receive a laptop. The laptops are a part of a $10million computer program at Westlake. Students with laptops will also have access to the Internet. In addition, they will be able to use e-mail to "speak" with their teachers,classmates, or families. However, the most important part of the program is that students will be able to use computers without going to computer labs. They can work with it anywhere they like!
Because of the many changes in computer technology,laptop use in higher education is workable. As laptops become more powerful, they become more similar to desktop computers. In addition, portable computers can connect students to not only the Internet, but also libraries and other resources. State higher-education officials are studying how laptops can help students.
At Westlake College, more than 60 percent of the staff uses the computers. The laptops will allow all teachers to use computers in their lessons. As one Westlake teacher said,"Here we are in the middle of Virginia and we`re giving students a window on the world. They can see everything and
do everything."
连接世界
笔记本电脑在全世界都很流行。人们可以随处使用它。它们将人和工作地点连接到一起。今天在美国，笔记本甚至可以将学生和教室连接起来。
弗吉尼亚州的韦斯特莱克大学将要开始一项笔记本电脑计划，让学生能够在任意地方学习。五年之内，学校将有1500名学生每人得到一部笔记本电脑。这些电脑是韦斯特莱克大学斥资一千万美元实施的电脑计划的一部分。得到笔记本电脑的同学将有权使用互联网。 另外，他们还能通过电子邮件同老师、同学甚至家人进行“交谈”。但是，该计划最重要的部分就是：学生不用去机房就能用上电脑。他们可以在自己喜欢的任何地方使用它!
电脑科技的变化发展使得笔记本电脑在高等教育中的应用成为可能。笔记本的功能变得很强大，几乎和台式机无异。而且，便携式电脑不仅能上网，还可以把学生同图书馆等其它资源联系到一起。一些国家高等教育官员正在研究如何使用笔记本电脑帮助学生学习。
在韦斯特莱克大学，60％以上的教职员工使用电脑。笔记本电脑使得所有教师在教学中使用电脑成为可能。就像一名韦斯特莱克的老师说的：“我们位于弗吉尼亚的中心。我们为学生打开一扇面向世界的窗子。他们能看到一切，做到一切。”
