You know about this, but most likely you don't recognize the title. Rather than a chicken in every pot (sorry President Hoover), 1 :1 is a computer on every lap (student and teacher alike). It is hardly a new idea, Maine just celebrated their fifth year of 1 :1 using Macs. Apple commissioned a paper to showcase the effects of 1:1 computing, which clearly outlines its definition and educational implications. You can access it by clicking here.
I remember hearing Alan November speak a few years ago and he predicted that within 5 years each student would have an "hand held device" of their very own and it would revolutionize education, transforming everything we now know as "school". Well, it's not quite 5 years, but almost every high school student has a hand held device, a cell phone, that increasingly is able to perform everything they need to be in touch with their world.
1 : 1 computing is here on the college level --- as my daughter gets ready to go to C. W. Post next year she needs a laptop. It isn't a want, and a desktop is just impractical. This is an example of my "trickle down technology" theory: whatever we see in college now, we will see in elementary school soon.
Forget those sharpened number 2 pencils, make sure Johnny has his power cord in case his batery dies during Social Studies . . .
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6 comments:
Hi Julie,
I think your comments and thoughts are so true. The future is upon us. I'm excited and scared all at the same time. The trickle down theory is so true as well. The government has the most up to date technology which I believe becomes commercial after about 5 years. I feel we are all rushing ahead with these information technologies because of the many benefits they offer in terms of information sharing, acess and communication, but there are many issues that need to be taken into consideration such as honesty, saftey, security and appropriateness. I don't think we, as a society, have put as much effort into really thinking about and dealing with these concerns.
I'm wondering how one gets your school to participate in this type of program. I would love to get laptops for all the students in my school and smartboards in every classroom. Have you heard anything about how to do this, become a 1:1 school?
In my home school district on Long Island my 9th grader can't survive without a laptop and color printer. The school library isn't open enough hours after school for students to get their work done and the public library isn't open late enough to accomodate these kids' schedules. Soooo...1:1 computing is it. My 2 children in elementary school also use the computer extensively and I am amazed at what they know how to do. I wish I had learned at their age, because I feel that now, at my age, I'm playing catchup! Anyway-I think 1:1 computing is the way to go!
**Beatrice**
Julie...I loved your last comment.
Yes, what's available on the college level will eventually make it's way down to the public school elementary level- with hopefully the wrinkles being ironed out along the way.
Our school has not yet reached 1:1 computing...but we're making progress. In addition to a well functioning computer lab, we have moveable laptop carts (with approximately 25 laptops) on every floor. It would be idea to have a laptop cart in each room. I absolutely see the benefits in this. And having a classroom that unfortunately did not house the cart...I had longed for one...
Kate
Great introduction to 1:1 computing!
~Katie~
I really love reading all of your comments on 1:1 computing and I have my marching orders: I'll do my best to find out where in NYC there are 1:1 schools and how to get funding.
I saw something today, however, that made me wonder if we are ready. I visited a class that was using the laptops 1:1 and almost every child was on a gaming site. While I was in the room the teacher's laptop rang our "You've got mail!". It is not just enough to have the machinery, we also have to have the purpose for the technology and a firm commitment to using it for that end. Common sense, I think, but not common practice.
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