Catasauqua High School English teacher Erin DeBoar and math teacher Jennifer Youwakim believe the Catasauqua Area School District should utilize more technology to teach today's and tomorrow's students.

DeBoar and Youwakim appeared before the school board Jan. 13, explaining the advantages of providing each student with a laptop computer.

At the December 2013 board meeting, district Superintendent Robert Spengler presented a proposal to provide every student with an Apple laptop or iPad device. The proposal would cost the district roughly $650,000.

Youwakim said distributing laptops to every student would move the district into a 21st century learning model.

"I believe it's our responsibility to lay a proper foundation for our students," she said. "It would give our students the opportunity to further their academics by utilizing their resources."

Integrating technology into the curriculum, Youwakim said, increases a student's depth of knowledge, allows for greater retention of information, increases standardized test scores and saves paper.

Further, she said, distributing laptops to each student allows the district to help "close the education gap."

Board member Mary Alice Hartranft asked Youwakim if she foresees any problems with students who may not have Internet access at home. Youwakim said with a laptop, the student will be able to access the Internet any time at school, providing them an opportunity to download what they may need for a class assignment before leaving school for the day.

DeBoar also stressed the importance transitioning to a modern, more current method of teaching students.

"Students now live in a digital age," she said. "This is the way they experience the world around them."

DeBoar said she uses technological resources in her classes to enhance a student's access to additional information and also to further stimulate academic exploration and discussion.

"It helps students talk outside of class and increases student collaboration," she said. "It allows teachers to have discussions with students."

DeBoar added providing a technological device to every student will create a sense of ownership and accountability and allow the student to work at his or her own pace.

The board agreed to look into the concept of distributing a laptop or iPad device to each student and discuss the issue further at next month's board meeting.