To all critics of one-to-one…
When I speak to educators who are not part of the one-to-one world, I often sense their apprehension. Some share their thoughts, but others just look at me with a skeptical glance. If I start talking about my work, they stop listening as soon as they assume I am another one of those “tech guys”. They assume my focus is technology and not students.…technology and not teaching and learning. Many see one-to-one as a gimmick and a giant waste of money. Many of these educators have good reason to be a little leery. Many technology initiatives haven’t focused on changing the way that we teach and students learn. They have been implemented in order to make a teacher’s job “easier”, but often have created more work and confusion. Those are some very legitimate concerns, and some of those things are unfortunately happening in one-to-one schools. But.….…this also raises a lot of questions in my mind.
I wonder if those critics have EVER.…..
visited a one-to-one school.
visited with a one-to-one teacher.
visited with a student from a one-to-one school.
I wonder if they have seen.….
how students have CREATED amazing work using their technology.
how students have COLLABORATED with others from around the world.
how students are much more ENGAGED in a one-to-one classroom.
I wonder if they have.…
talked with community members and parents who believe their students are better prepared for today’s society because they are part of a one-to-one school.
talked with business owners who love the idea of moving our schools forward.
talked with a student or parent who for the first time in their life have a computer in their home.
The recent bombardment of news about the political dialogue in this country sure has me thinking. It seems that in politics the absolute lack of knowledge about a topic doesn’t limit individuals from talking passionately about that topic. Personally, I hold education to a much higher standard. I hope that those critics of one-to-one and educational technology in general are truly informing themselves about the topic. My fear is that too often I, like many of you, am preaching to the choir. With that said.…I sure “ain’t gonna” stop my screaming, and I’m happy to have many of you next to me helping to move education forward.
Nick Sauers
Nick — do you think that 1:1 Initiatives might turn in to BYOT? Just wondering with the recent developments with IMS Global Learning Consortium etc.
“…absolute lack of knowledge about a topic does not limit individuals from talking passionately about that topic.” As I read, I laughed aloud. Those who are the loudest are not necessarily the voice of truth. People confuse perception with reality. I am proud to work in a 1:1 school-this is Sioux Central’s first year.
Last winter, one professional development day called all of us teachers to visit a 1:1 school. A few of my colleagues and I traveled four hours to Van Meter, IA. After our tour and discussions with our gracious hosts, each of us knew-there was no going back. We had to forge ahead. We were on the path-inquiry learning, relevance and rigor had driven us to the technology crossroads. Our school, our teachers, excited and rejuvenated, embraced the idea of 1:1. Honestly, it was surreal-considering the possibilities, for we all had heard of the success in Newell-Fonda, and other 1:1 districts. We wanted to be a part of the revolution. We wanted to continue improving, continue learning.
I join my voice with yours to silence those who confuse perception with reality, who allow their fear of change hinder the ability to discern, who find fault in all that is new.
This year I have seen:
Students who have felt excluded, now included
Writing happening just because
Student produced podcasts
Students chatting with museum curators
Students Skyping with professionals
Engagement and active conversation during a video/presentation
Teachers celebrating success
Teachers working with teachers in other towns, other states, other countries
Collaboration knowing no border
Engagement
This computer did not magically turn my school into a perfect institution, the initiative is an initiative not a magic wand. But what is has done…amazing.
Nick & Erin,
You both make great comments in support of the 1:1 programs going in Iowa. I thank you both for your work. It is hard to imagine telling all of our students it is going away. The other area that needs a mention is the tremendous network swell that is rising due to more joining the 1:1 program. And it is technology that most of us recognize is not the driving force, but gets mentioned most. That is unfortunate that many seem to focus on a computer doesn’t change teaching. I totally agree, if you are doing a 1:1 for 1:1 sake, it may draw some criticism.
However, with leaders in the state focused on improving teaching like some in 1:1 network, this is more than technology. I thank all of those schools who have take part and are pushing Newell-Fonda to continue to improve. There are to many to mention and I would leave some out, but some of the leaders I have worked with from Sigourney, Okoboji, Van Meter, South Hamilton, Manson Northwest Webster, Sioux Central, Spirit Lake, and Okoboji.
I don’t criticize those who get excited about an initiative in their district, so I am a little confused why 1:1’s have to justify the things going on in our schools?????
I have done all of the examples you listed. I have never shied away from learning more about 1:1s. I won’t stop questioning and thinking critically about everything we do in schools. From the food we serve our students to the schedules we set up in our buildings to the technology we use.
Thanks for all of the comments! Dan-You pose a great question that I’m not sure I can answer. Some schools are already implementing BYOL, but I know that lots of one-to-one educators and tech directors fear that for different reasons. A while back Blair Peterson wrote a post on this blog about BYOL.
Erin & Jeff-Thanks for all of the work you had done at each of your schools! Your comments highlight some of the great things going on with one-to-one.
Russ-I totally agree. Too often in education we do accept the status quo without questioning! My hope is simply when that questioning occurs, it happens in an informed way.
We are only into our first year of being a 1:1 laptop school, but I can say without hesitation, that it would be very difficult to be in a system that doesn’t have it! The transformation is unbelievable…the difficult part now, as leaders, is to provide the training, support, and to remove the barriers for our teachers to move forward.
Nick, you need to keep screaming, and we will begin to scream with you! With time, data undoubtedly will begin to also support our cause. I can’t thank the 1:1 network for the support and resources to make teaching and learning a success for our program.
Great piece. I’ve taught in two 1:1 schools and have been using laptops w/kids since 1999. I’m not sure I could teach effectively again without 1:1 as the resources and tools available in 1:1 have been such a huge part of how I teach. I never want to go back to pre-1:1 in my teaching!
About the BYOL program, this was done for a while at Oregon Episcopal School and several other independent schools and I understand is starting to get interest in other schools for a variety of reasons including cost (parents pay for the hardware and I assume software as well — school provides infrastructure and support.)
School CIO interviewed me about BYOL for a piece they were writing recently. I said some concerns were the digital divide playing out with better and lesser equipment in the hands of wealthier/not wealthy kids; the complexity of support and having support staff know all this hardware; the complexity of loaners and integrating into the classroom; requirements for antivirus/antimaleware to ensure that nothing damaging gets on the network; insurance and liability. However I said if this can be solved more power to the schools because few things are going to have such a positive and long-term impact on kids’ current and future learning and career goals than having a laptop 24/7.
Pam,
I agree with your comment on the digital divide rearing its ugly head with BYOL.
I have seen some school districts that model their BYOL program on their Free and Reduced Lunch program. Those who can purchase computers will purchase computers. Those that need some help in purchasing will purchase computers through the school at a reduced cost that they can afford. Those on Free lunch will receive computers from the school.
As democratic as we want to be, 1-to-1 programs will work better if the computers are similar. This sort of program will facilitate the similarity between computers throughout the school or district.
Have you found schools who are using this model?
Leigh Zeitz
http://drzreflects
zeitz@uni.edu
Leigh,
Thanks for posting! In my work with potential 1:1 schools recently, I’m been amazed by the number that are making plans of using the BYOL (or D) model. I’m always supportive of putting technology in the hand of students, but I think these schools need to move forward very carefully.
Nick