One-to-One Computing: Promises and Perils

lesliew:

Greetings! I am honored to spend time with you talking about one to one!! Having directed Michigan’s statewide program and honing a quality team at One to One Institute, we have learned many lessons and helped districts, states and countries implement successful programs. Our group is made up of practitioners-administrators, teachers, technology directors who have spent years in one to one programs. As a former principal and central office person, I can tell you that I have witnessed nothing more powerful for personalizing teaching and learning and increasing students’ progress than in one to one programs.

Tom: Hi, Craig,

I have been involved in 1-1 school solutions for about 15 years. Overt that time i have seen considerable evolution in the capabilities, results and acceptance. Nothing else that I have seen has the power to transform schools like properly implemented 1-1 computing. I am looking forward to hearing from our audience!

Craig Stone, moderator:

ok, here’s our 1st question ...

lesliew:

Jeff, There is great personalized student power when each one has one:) Computer labs need to be scheduled. One to one programs allow for students to have anytime and anywhere access to learning activities. As such, they expereince just in time ability to pursue information, remediation, communications that are important to their unique learning needs. Just imagine if someone told you that you could use your computer once or twice at week to get your work (job/schooling) accomplished. That is what we tell students who have access in school to scheduled computer lab time.

Craig Stone, moderator:

thanks for answering Jeff’s questions Leslie, Tom, perhaps you can tackle Jeanne’s question?

Tom:

i think it is too soon to tell the budget effects on 1-1. Surely they will be there though. The budget aspect is a downer, but on the positive side, the cost of hardware (netbooks) has dropped dramatically. This will encourage more schools ot go this route.

Tom: Lauren,

Our research has shown that there are few 1-1 implementations below 3rd grade. the majority are in middle schools. high schools are second, and elementary schools last in terms of numbers.

Craig Stone, moderator:

thanks for this question Colin ...

Tom:

This can be a problem. the best way to approach it is to have substantial up-front training of parents as well as students. if the parents get involved, and they learn how they can play a role in making sure the technology is used properly and cared for properly it makes a big difference. A school computer, properly implemented, is no the same as a home computer.

Tom:

A netbook will cost about half of the cost of a laptop on a total cost of ownership basis. This includes fthe cheaper device, lower maintenance costs, etc.

lesliew:

Craig,
It has been my observation that schools are just now exploring the newer, less expensive models out there. I agree with Tom’s findings that schools were still purchasing the higher cost computers until very recently.

Tom:

Implementing anti-theft measures is important. Not having machines in easily identified backpacks is important. Improving school security so that outsiders can’t slip in and steal poorly guarded computers is essential.

Parent/guardian training is very important as well.

Tom:

America’s Digital Schools figures show that schools spend on average $98/student/year on PD. The best PD starts months before the students get their computers, and continues on throughout the year, being delivered by classroom mentors.

Tom: It is unlikely that schools will be paying for cell phones and data plans.

And many/most schools ban phones from being used in classrooms. But this is starting to change.

Schools have already started finding ways to exploit the technology in a kid’s pocket. The price is right!!

We are seeing a wide number of applications in these areas, including school tiplines, mass notifications, use in homework help, etc. I expect this area will attract a lot of attention from software publishers, and will be widespread in a few years.

I think this area will be one of the fastest growing areas over the next several years as smartphones drop in price, applications get easier to use and more integrated, and measures are devevloped to allow phones to be used in classrooms without the current issues.

Tom:

Project RED www.projectRED.org was established to address this question. No one has really studied the full cost picture. for example, a school copy machine budget can exceed $100K a year. In a 1-1 school printing costs can go down. The cost of digital materials is less than print materials, etc. When you consider the costs of failure, prevented by 1:1, the justification is very strong for technology.

Does your district offer a one-to-one program?
yes
( 47% )

no
( 7% )

i wish!
( 47% )

lesliew:

Tom is right on!!! Project Red is going to be very helpful. One thing is certain! Those implementing the program need to have 1) a shared vision with strategic action plan including budget and 2) effective leadership and communication among all stakeholders. For more help with this go to www.one-to-oneinstitute.org and www.projectred.org.

What has been your experience of a one-to-one program?
Good
( 43% )

Bad
( 0% )

Ugly
( 0% )

Needed better planning & implementation
( 57% )

lesliew:

Jeff,-

One to one programs are least of all about having a device. It is ALL about transfroming teaching and learning, and, above all, increasing student achievement-preparing them for this century. The radical nature of this is how tremendously different pedagogy is in a one to one environment. THat shift creates a powerful and student-directed learning approach.

Tom:

Jeff, it isn’t radical to many, but currently only a few thousand schools are doing it. So it is radical to many of the stakeholders. One issue that has hurt the cause is that a substantial number of implementations are poorly done, and yield no results. These are the schools that end up on the New York Times front page. The good news is that our stiudies shwo that the success rate is increasing substantially over the last few years

If i had a magic classroom wand, i would wish for a one-to-one program in my school/district
You bet!
( 82% )

Not at the top of my list.
( 18% )

Absolutely not.
( 0% )

lesliew:

Sue,

the main benefits to students are: teaching/learning in their natural language and habitat (using technology:)), ability to meet students’ unique needs and abilities, creation of self-directed and motivated learners due to high engagement with technology tools and rapid response/information rates, decreased discipline issues, increased attendance, increased achievement. School administrators would be thrilled to implement if they saw the vision of return on investment, not just initial capital needed, for this kind of program...not to mention the above benefits to our students.

Tom: I see the main benefits as personalization, and the elimination of the barriers of time, space, and money from accessing information. To quote a sixth grade Hispanic girl from Lemon Grove, California, on the positive impact of having her own computer in school, and to take home at night, she said, “Now I can find the answer to every question.”

It is also a productivity issue. Students can gain info faster, process it better, and produce higher quality output when employing technology.

Craig Stone, moderator: Liz, here’s one resource, courtesy of DigitalDirections.org’s Kathleen Manzo:

1-to-1 Learning: Laptop Programs That Work, by Pamela Livingston

http://www.iste.org/source/Orders/isteProductDetail.cfm?product_code=LAPTO2

Tom:

Great question!!

There is a strong movement towards online assessment. 1-1 schools have the advantage of no hardware constraints.

A number of companies now offer excellent programs that allow teachers to create standards-based quizzes, deliver them, and then to do extensive data analysis. 1-1 schools that are doing this regularly, and where teachers get capacity building training are amiong those who are doing much better than average, and who attribute the improvements to the technology.