1:1 Computing

[Lori Holcomb]

Share your thoughts, ideas, concerns, etc. on 1:1 Computing

[Rhonda W]

I have a question for those of you in the classroom but not teaching computer-related courses. How much of incorporating the types of activities we are talking about in this unit can you do without the 1:1 computer initiative? I'm interested in whether it is possible to obtain some of the benefits of technology use in an environment where students have some access to computers but not at the 1:1 level. Are you able to incorporate technology activities? Can you require specific things? If you can, do you need to provide computer access via a lab or can you assume students can do that on their own? I know if you are teaching, say Computer Applications, you include lots of hands-on computer activities because that is what the curriculum is all about. But what if, instead, you are teaching Business Law, or even something like Biology?

I am not totally convinced the 1:1 initiative is the way to go, but even if we accept it completely, it will be a long time until it is available to all students in NC. In the meantime, can't we provide "training and professional development on curriculum integration, not just technical skills" (Bonifaz & Zucker, 2004) for all teachers to enable them to better serve our students? Might that not be the sort of deliberate, incremental change that Bonifaz and Zucker tell us we can expect?

Rhonda

[Jennifer Cable]

Rhonda,
I can't respond to the first part of your question because I teach keyboarding and every student has their own computer in my lab. As for the "training and professional development on curriculum integration, not just technical skills", I think we still need some more emphasis on the technical skills. There are teachers at my school that still are not comfortable using a computer. We are going to NCWise this fall and I dread it simply because I am the one they call when they need to set up a new grade book or hook the projector up in their classroom. I believe that we do need more technical instruction but we also need curriculum intergration. I try to work with other teachers and ask what I can do for them to help them intergrate technology into their lesson plans. A couple of teacher and I work together having students do things in their classroom and I finish them up on the computer. But is is rare. The most collaboration happens between the language arts teacher and myself. Student write stories in her class and we type them in mine. The reading teacher has me do the Starrs test at the beginning and end of the year but that is the extent of that collaboration. The math teacher has me do Study Island with his students but that is the extend of the collaboration. As you can see, there needs to be more collaboration and more interagration of technology within my school. Many teachers resist using technology because they have had bad experiences in the past. Sites are blocked, the server is down, the laptops don't connect to the network, etc. I don't know what the answers are but I think it is going to take a long time to get all teachers on board incorporating technology in their lesson plans. I guess I did respond to the first part of your question. Sorry for the rambling, I am just thinking out loud.

[Rhonda W]

Thanks for your thoughts. We are certainly fortunate in CTE, particularly in Business and Information Technology Education, to have access to computers for our students. It is great that you are able to work with the Language Arts teacher and others on collaborative projects. We've been preaching curriculum integration in CTE for a long time. Now that we are held accountable for our students' performance on certain NCLB measures (English I EOC, 10th grade writing exam, and Algebra I EOC), it is even more important to work together to promote student performance.

My experience working with people who convert to NC WISE is that it is a difficult transition but that in the long run it is much improved over the previous situation. I hope the conversion isn't too painful for you.

Rhonda

[Emily Jessee]

I too am a CTE teacher and very fortunate to have computers and access for all my students. I started using NC Wise about four years ago and really like it. It definitely took a while for everyone to become adjusted Jennifer, but you will quickly see what a wonderful tool it can be (entering grades and attendance quickly become second nature). I am not sure if all school systems have links to check grades at home, but I have found this portion to be the most successful with students and parents.

Rhonda, I too think if the 1:1 initiative is the way to go we still have a ways before those gates are open. In the meantime, I think one avenue to stay up to date is to educate our teachers and leaders through training and professional development as well as development of research. I will be interested to see what happens in our debate tomorrow evening.

[Charley Norkus]

Well, I'm a history teacher who used to sell the "software" for the teacher and/or students to use. Maybe it was because 1:1 initiatives were so rare, or maybe because we really believed it, but we always said the best learning took place with 2-3 students gathered around a desktop - bigger screen, definitely more interaction and collaboration. I think the incremental change B&Z referred to is that change that slowly transfers out across the faculty as more and more teachers begin to trust the technology and introduce it into their instruction and student learning. I always tried to identify the teachers in a school who were already "tech-eager" because I knew they were familiar with plug-in downloads, Inet disruptions, etc, and would not give up easily. They knew to always have a "Plan B" just in case. Once they bought in and started sharing that excitement with others, it would spread. Now, on the other hand, if it was a matter of having to reserve a cart or computer lab, then it wouldn't spread b/c the teachers who enjoyed the technology didn't want to have to compete for carts and lab time! That's when I'd go to the principal and say, "Look, you need some more computers!"

[Delphine Pittman]

Hi,
My name is Delphine and I am a graduate of the T&D school. I have been reading your comments and find this conversation interesting, so I hope you won't mind if I comment.

First, I think that it is interesting that there is even a question about whether technology should be integrated. The kids now are integrating Facebook, their phones, classnotes, gaming, and grades online, etc, etc.
If technology is not integrated in school, it will be the only place that is not integrated.

I understand the teachers who do not feel confortable with computers but this is a barrier that the school system must help teachers overcome by offering this training to them. Maybe the school can have a technology specialist to teach and help teachers to make the transition. If technology is not integrated in the classroom our kids will just continue to fall behind other developed countries.

My 2 bits....

[Kay Pitchford]

I think 1:1 computing can be beneficial for today's students if teachers buy into it, and the technology is there to support it. I know that schools always seem to be a few steps behind when it comes to implemening technology, partly because of cost, and partly because of all of the steps it takes to have certain programs approved and installed, not to mention the personnel needed to monitor and maintain it. If something goes wrong, schools may have to wait weeks for it to be corrected, losing time that could be used to actually work with the technology. Also, the technology would be a waste of money if teachers were not willing to incorporate it into their DAILY lessons. Once a week would not be enough. It would take training and ongoing support, including ready-made lessons so as to not make teachers feel that using the technology is just one more thing they have to do. Personally, I would be excited about such a program at my school, especially if the teacher training and support (including resources) component was included.

[Kaitlin]

I am a second grade teacher. It is hard to use a lot of computer activities in the classroom because I only have 4. However, I try to use them as much as I can. Each week I usually have an interactive center activity on the computer. They have a lot of great websites for the younger students. My students also go to the computer lab 45min a week and instruction from our tech teacher. I think having them exposed at a young age is good. If they do bring 1:1 to the classroom I think it should be at a higher level, maybe middle or high school. I feel it might be a bit overwhelming for the younger students but exposure at a young age is definitely helpful.

[Deanna Peck]

After reading through the articles I can understand how many people (teachers, parents, administrators, even taxpayers) would be skeptic about giving a middle school student a laptop to take back and forth from school to their home. I don’t even take my personal laptop to school in fear of it being stolen, dropped, or even being corrupted with an enemy flash drive.

The overall idea to give students 24/7 access to an education is a wonderful idea. Yes, there will be plenty of computer glitches and headaches but in the long run I would have a greater impact on my students’ learning than just the textbook, workbook, and lecture notes alone. I primarily teach Business Lecture courses (once in a while I am in a lab for a period) but in my regular classroom with a laptop, internet, and a screen projector I can explore with my students those random questions. If something striking was in the news and relates to our subject lets find it!

If students are given more of a responsibility with their education then maybe they will perform harder, better, faster, and learn in the process.

[Paula Justice]

After reading the articles I think giving students access to computers would be beneficial. Yes it will take a lot to implement but we live in a digital age (we have no choice...students need to be prepared). Providing laptops will improve the classroom experience, provide universal internet access for disadvantaged families, build strong relationships between teacher, parent, school and community. Classroom use of a computer has evolved over over the last 10 years...students need more than just the basics computer skills. (1 to 1 computer initiatives give every student the same tool to do the same work).

I think it would be a good idea to start the initiative with providing each student with a computer (for school use only). One article discussed assigning a computer when the student "arrives" at middle school as a 6th grader. The student would keep this computer throughout their 3 years of middle school. This would allow them to be responsible for their computer and also allow them to use it in every class (when needed). Tutoring and or study hall could be set up to allow additional time for students to use their computers to complete homework, projects and or do research.

By "housing" the computers at school allows for a safer/controlled environment. The students are given access to improve their technology skills and the schools keep theft and damage of computers to a minimum.

[Mary Shanly]

I try to look at both sides of every issue. Part of me thinks that this is a great idea and that this will solve our problems of students not performing well in the classroom, on standardized tests, and when compared to other countries. There have been many studies that show that the use of computers raise test scores and help students who are struggling in certain subjects. Having access to a computer and the Internet will allow students to utilize the many resources out on the web that can assist them in improving their grades, motivate, and engage them more in their education.

Cost is always an issue with many things in education. Textbooks are expensive, get stolen, damaged, and become outdated just as much if not more so than computers and technology. School districts have to be careful when looking into a plan such as one-to-one computing to see if it really cost effective for them to do.

Now, the other part of me think that history will repeat itself and that 5-10 years down the road researchers will be saying that we need to “unplug” our children and get back to the basics in education. That is not to say that computers will be out of the schools and not used but that researchers will be finding that our students do not know how to communicate effectively and they will be lacking people skills. I already see this in some of my students. I’ve talked with a few middle school teachers, one being a math teacher, and they say that the kids do not know the basics already. They do not know how to read a word problem and pick it apart to figure out how to solve it. They do not know how to think for themselves and to figure something out on their own. Possibly one-to-one computing will help solve these problems but they also may perpetuate them. It makes it difficult to teach higher level, critical thinking skills, problem based learning, and project based learning along with numerous other things being thrown at us when the students struggle with basic assignments. I think there is a happy medium to all this and that schools and administrators just need to find what that is.

[Elizabeth Matthews]

I think your second paragraph about the expense of textbooks could possibly be one of the biggest pros for adopting a 1:1 program. Online is updated in a matter of minutes; so content stays current. Online can't be stolen or damaged (the laptop can, but not the content). Reducation of textbook adoptions would allot more funding for the 1:1 programs. Great point!