A 1:1 student to laptop ratio could radically transform education as we know it. Certainly, it could increase students' access to information, providing these laptops are connected to the internet. It could also increase the potential for connection between students and teachers worldwide and would level the playing field in terms of access to technology. The amount of paper used in our schools could decrease rapidly and excuses for lost homework would change! I think if this kind of program was sufficiently supported with enough tech assistance and effective, sustained prod, education for all students could be improved. The laptop is a powerful tool but without an understanding of ways to use it and the means to maintain it, it won't be effective. (Elizabeth)
Regarding this 1:1 laptop idea, there is a program designed to deliver laptops to free of charge to 13,200 Haitian school children (I couldn't figure out how to post a link here, but if you google "Haiti laptops for schools", it'll take you to the info on it) - will be interesting to watch what happens with this project. (Linda)
Would it level the playing field, or only make the digital divide wider? It will take a long time for ALL schools to go this way... and until then, we have the lucky (and often times rich, private school kids) few and the rest of us. Or could this be used as an argument for getting 1:1 programs in place in public schools: "look at the advantage private schools are giving students! We have to stay competitive!" --Jessica
I think that there is a definite advantage to students using and having laptops in school, but I also think that there are some disadvantages. I don't think that teachers will ever solve the problem of homework excuses. We get it now: "I emailed it to myself and it's gone", "my computer isn't working right", "I have Vista/Office 2007 and it isn't compatible with XP". These are excuses that I have heard in the library in the last week alone. I also wonder about problems such as games, listening to music, surfing other sites etc. I also wonder about the article on ctv.ca about stress levels when the wireless is disconnected. What happens then? When we have network problems now- the whole school seems to panic and want to shut down. I'm just not sure about relying so much on internet accessability and technology. I think think I just became "old fashioned"! Eeek! (Katie)
Katie, I don't think you are old fashioned at all... I think you are just being realistic! 1:1 laptops bring with them a wealth of technical issues that we would need to be prepared for. Compatibility of software is a huge issue, as is safe data storage and reliable network access. I personally would never want my school to get a laptop for every student before these issues were looked at long and hard and contingency plans were in place. --Jessica
I see both positives and negatives with learning with laptops 1:1. Yes I do believe there is transformation coming but it should happen slowly and with teachers who want to teach this way as well as are trained and continue their professional development in this area.
My nephew is in grade six at a public school. As part of a pilot project, 20 grade 6 and 20 grade 7 students were given a MAC. The majority of daily learning takes place on the computer. Math is the only subject that is not on the MAC. In speaking with my sister-in-law and my nephew I have found many positives and some negatives of 1:1 laptop/student learning.
Positives from my nephew - he likes it "its fun", more efficient than using pencil/paper, stronger ability to research, better for working with others in the class on a project, can find information easily e.g.: today he looked up Oscar Peterson in music.
Parent positives - he has always been a computer kid and now that school is on computer it gives him great confidence, and 'validates' him (as he sees it), he is doing a lot more research and quality research, when they travel or he is sick he can take it with them and not miss homework, he can communicate easily with his class through their intranet (drop box)
Negatives: Mom - he is spending more and more time on the computer, once the school work is done, it’s easy to stay on and play games, when friends are over they do their homework together then hop onto games, he is a strong student and his marks remain strong, the only noticeable difference is his spelling is deteriorating. (Not significantly, but enough for her to notice)
Nephew - when someone hasn't re-charged their computer and come to school and its not working...they have to plug it in. When someone doesn’t take care of their computer.
1:1 laptop learning is the way of the future but it must be approached slowly, cautiously and with great professional development. My nephew's teacher attends "computer meetings" every 2 or 3 weeks (according to my nephew) to learn more and help them.
Boundaries must be set, they have strict rules...this week their teacher did a 'spot memory check'. Two students had their laptops taken away for 2 weeks. 1 for having a porn site in his memory and the other for playing violent games. During the suspension they must use paper and pencil and have limited access to computers. Lots of kinks to work out and expenses to consider but worth a pilot project and taking a look at. (Val)
Val, thank you for helping us see a real-life example of how 1:1 student laptop ratio can look in a classroom. It sounds like there are a lot of positives, especially since your nephew seems to have found his strength. However, the negatives are interesting, and as Jessica said, I would hope that any school making this part of their program would be well prepared and have contingency plans in place. It does seem ideal to let every student have complete access to his own computer, but we must be prepared for ALL that will come along with that. By the way, I thought the "spot memory check" you described was interesting, but apparently, very necessary!! (Ronda)
I definitely agree Val that this implementation must occur slowly, but most importantly with professional development accompanying it! This, I think, will be the tought part. It is hard enough to find professional development time for collaboration and grade planning. It will be especially difficult to fit this type of profesiional development time in. Dunleavy's article comes from a bit more of an intermediate perspective...any takers on how this would work in a more primary setting??-Jean
When I imagine implementing a 1:1 laptop program, I get a general feeling of anxiety. I'm pretty sure that the program that Val's nephew is involved in is at a school in my district. It is well equipped with a lot of tech savvy teachers. Still, I am always concerned when a Grade 7 student is carrying around a $1000 piece of gear in their backpack. I also am not sure that I could compete with a laptop sitting in front of a student during a science or social class. If the computer found its place as one of many tools at the students disposal, I would feel more at ease with the idea. I have gotten some pretty strong advice over the years that children need to get their hands on objects and work with them. They need to learn some diagraming skills and spill a bottle of paint every once in a while (and not into a keyboard!)
When I have a casual conversation with our tech support analysts, they are very concerned about battery life and wireless bandwidth when deploying so many computers. I know that the people involved with 1:1 initiatives are very on top of things. At this point, I am very happy to have a projector on the classroom and a lab nearby. There are many ways to empower a student and create a life long learner. (John)
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