Teenager and laptop

balletshoes

Its interesting to see when/if schoolkids need their own laptop to do homework.

My DD's high school doesn't set homework online, nor is it marked online, no blogs etc. They do have to research online for homework though.

delain

Jojo_the_Tightfisted wrote: »

Having seen DD2's homework (she's 14), it's pretty near impossible to complete school or homework now without one. The work is set by computer, lots of it is specifically required to be completed by computer, and even the stuff that isn't often consists of 'research online.......'. I feel sorry for those parents who can't afford one and internet access, as, seeing the state of the computers at the library, where memory sticks are banned and virus infection seems to be the rule rather than exception, those kids must get almost constant hassle from not being able to complete their homework.




ETA: My own qualifications would have been impossible to obtain without a computer and good internet access.

My DD1 has just gone to secondary and has to use the internet to do her homework and upload it to the school. If we didn't have internet access she would have considerable trouble.

Oh has kindly replaced my laptop which broke about 2 years ago, so I have got a user account for her to do her homework on. Was a bit of a shock actually, he went out for printer ink and came back with a laptop :eek: not that I'm complaining, it's my Christmas present :rotfl:

jellyhead

minimoneysaver wrote: »

Junior school children are expected to do research projects online and produce powerpoint presentations...well they are at the school I work at and at my daughters school. They also need access to maths and literacy sites to complete their homework.

My youngest's school does ask for research on projects but they teach enough in class for children to make some sort of stab at the homework and they also use the computers to do a bit of class research. They don't expect every home to have internet and are understanding when children say they don't have it and couldn't complete their homework. They have some reference books in the school library for children who need them.

High school didn't really expect it either, but then they have a lot of rural pupils who have no option but to get the school bus home, so they don't have the same options for homework clubs, etc. that children who live closer to their school have.

When my eldest got to his GCSE's some of the teachers expected every home to have internet, but this was mainly the separate science teachers who expected their pupils to be from more affluent homes. How rude! We had to update our son's computer because the versions of programmes we had weren't compatible. Luckily he's a summer birthday so he had a new PC for a birthday present :rotfl: He plays games on it too though, so in his eyes it was a proper present rather than equipment for school.

In response to OP I would buy things like that as birthday or christmas present, but perhaps that's because my boys like technology and play games on it. If it were just for schoolwork I don't suppose it would be any more exciting than getting a compass and calculator for christmas.

Eldest needed a PC in 6th form, definitely. We would probably get youngest a good PC (we use ancient things ourselves!) before he starts his GCSE courses, but as a birthday present.

Wyre

My 2 youngest (12+14) both have to pick up their homework online, some is submitted online too. They have maths sites to visit and the 14 year has SAM learning to do too. My lad needs his own now he has started his A-levels.

Having more than one child in secondary school is a nightmare for trying to sort some kind of rota for them all to do their homework. If we could afford for all of them to have pc's or lappys we would do it. That said, the younger two would have to keep them in the living room where we could keep an eye!

alwaysskint96

Jojo_the_Tightfisted wrote: »

Having seen DD2's homework (she's 14), it's pretty near impossible to complete school or homework now without one. The work is set by computer, lots of it is specifically required to be completed by computer, and even the stuff that isn't often consists of 'research online.......'. I feel sorry for those parents who can't afford one and internet access, as, seeing the state of the computers at the library, where memory sticks are banned and virus infection seems to be the rule rather than exception, those kids must get almost constant hassle from not being able to complete their homework.





ETA: My own qualifications would have been impossible to obtain without a computer and good internet access.

It doesnt have to be a laptop though- a desktop will work just as well, and more easily upgradeable etc

dinglefoot

I got my first mobile, (one of those practically unbreakable Nokia bricks ), in 2003 when I was about to start secondary school.
Apart from that though, I generally had a new mobile every 2 years for Christmas and I was given money for a laptop on my 18th birthday almost 4 years ago because it was a special birthday. Until then, I shared a family computer with my parents/used my OH's laptop if I was at his house (we've been together since we were 16 lol).

My little brother generally is only bought laptops and phones at Christmas and has been having them from a younger age...he's on his third laptop and I've only had one! However, he has had a couple of replacement phones during the year I think. He managed to lose one/have one stolen at secondary school school last year, and I think he may have had another one during the year at some point due to his constant nagging and driving my parents barmy

tea_lover

cutestkids wrote: »

I have to agree with this my son started secondary school this year and so far he has had homework where he logs on to a Maths website where the teachers has left tasks to be completed online.
He has English homework in the form of a blog which then is emailed to his teacher on completion.

He has needed it to research for several other subjects also.

Although we have a laptop at home, there are four of us here I am doing an OU course so I need the laptop a lot, my younger son uses it as does my OH so we are all at the moment competing for time on it.

That's why my niece will be getting a laptop. After 3 weeks of high school it's clear that sharing a laptop with her mum (who's a teacher so needs to use it a lot in the evenings) just isn't going to work

fiscalfreckles

Presents in our house. Apart from the odd phone upgrade that didn't cost anything.

itsanne

Our kids are older now so there wasn't the same need for school use - the family PC did fine. Laptops were bought as presents before they would be needed eg the Christmas before going to uni, and phones as presents. Youngest is only now about to replace her laptop nearly seven years on! The number of phones she has gone through is another matter :cool:.

**Patty**

Our way:

They all got/get a capped contract phone from the age of 12 until the age of 18. We pay for all contracts. If they want a particular phone when the contract is up that the upgrade fee is in excess of around £30....then they have it as part of their birthday present.

We have always had a family desktop. If/when they wanted a laptop (eldest son didn't...daughter did) then it was bought as a christmas present.......but it's not a shared thing...it's theirs exclusively.


Should add that there's 4 children....ages 18,17,15 and 11. The 15 year old has his own desktop as it's loaded with software appropriate to him, but yes, it was bought as a present at christmas.