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After more than 10 years studying laptop computing in schools, Saul Rockman (2003) concludes that one of the most important benefits of a laptop program is an increase in 21st century skills. "Developing the ability to learn independently, collaborate with peers to accomplish work, and communicate the conclusions of your work are the core of 21st century skills, and a highly valued set of competencies in the world outside of school.

Although laptops primarily provide students with opportunities to develop 21st century skills, their use also impacts state achievement tests.

A 2000 study, also by Rockman, found that teachers in laptop schools showed significant movement toward constructivist teaching.

The MLLS evaluation team uses a success-based approach to evaluation. We use the research base and the experience of large scale educational technology initiatives to move beyond the question of whether technology can improve student learning to using the idenetified conditions and strategies for using technology which do improve the quality of a school's instructional program as a benchmark for evaluation. Doing so, the MLLS evaluation team can provide critical formative assessment to local project leaders about what they are doing well, what challenges they face, and can make recommendations on how to address the challenges.