In 2002, a $41 million initiative put laptop computers in the hands of every middle school student and teacher in the state of Maine. The laptops have jumpstarted a host of projects that cut across disciplines and allow students to go more deeply into subjects. But the ultimate lesson is that technology is only as good as how it's used -- either as a 21st century pencil or as a new way of teaching kids to be leaders in a 21st century world.

Below are articles and videos from our 2003 coverage -- the early days of the project. And don't miss our new interview with Maine's ex-governor, Angus King, on lessons learned from the 1-to-1 laptop initiative.