You may want to gather a few important stakeholders in your school and
go through the free Online 1:1 Readiness Assessment
(http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=3DSJet9Op5BC80DYD5Sqp_2fxQ_3d_3d)
offered by Educational Collaborators. Full disclosure here...I work
with that group. However, almost 100 schools have taken the free
assessment which guides you through the planning process of the various
areas of a 1:1 program. When completed, you have the option of talking
with a skilled 1:1 technology director (again, no charge) whose
experience is at a school similar in nature to yours. We have a few
people with experience with International Schools that may benefit the
unique challenges your school faces, such as huge turnover.
That being said, the roll out time at each school is (or at least should
be) dependent on the culture of the school. Your turnover rate suggests
you should move faster with faculty. However, I would make sure that
more stable groups (perhaps board or admin) have the time to understand
it deeply enough to provide a bedrock of support through the faculty
transitions, including hiring. Your goals as an institution will also
color your professional development plans. Take time to really explore
WHY you are doing this. Get good consensus among stakeholders on WHY
you are doing it. The answer to that question will color all sorts of
other decisions, such as software, policies, professional development,
etc.
Good luck! Planning a 1:1 program is one of the most exciting exercises
I have had in my career. Enjoy it!
Take care,
Alex
Alex Inman
Director of Technology
Whitfield School
St. Louis, MO
314.434.5141
-----Original Message-----
From: A forum for independent school educators
[mailto:ISED-L@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU] On Behalf Of Robert Bauer
Sent: Tuesday, October 21, 2008 6:10 AM
To: ISED-L@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU
Subject: 1:1 Laptop Planning
We are planning to gradually roll out a 1:1 program, with planning to
cont
inue this year, teachers to receive a laptop next year and tightly
coordin
ated PD including enumerated expectations regarding use in classes when
we
get there in year three. We will organize on-line and face to face
trainin
g among cadres of teacher trainers, send some to Hong Kong for multiple
ob
servations and such.
The question though, is how much lead time did your school use or would
yo
u recommend from committing to a gradual 1:1 until teachers receive a
comp
uter. There is some concern that we should plan the rest of this year,
pla
n throughout 09-10, train in 10-11 and finally put computers in one or
two
grades in 11-12.
Is 1.75 years of planning really necessary? Did your school do it in
more=20
or less? I know careful planning beyond just infrastructure and training
m
ust take place. Policies, equipment, repair arrangements etc. but feel
1.7
5 years of planning might result in loss of anticipation? We are an
intern
ational school outside of Hong Kong. By 2011-12 we will likely have a
75%=20
turn over in staff.
Any thoughts?
.......................................................................
Robert Bauer
Information Technology Director
American International School of Guangzhou
Tel: (8620) 8735-3392 Fax: (8620) 8735-3339
rbauer@aisgz.edu.cn
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