It's not about how useful the accumulation of knowledge is being used with a
laptop, but it is supporting them outside the education level. Technology
equipment can be abused and mishandled, and we need to be prepared to
support them. I don't think it is a myth, but a risk that needs to be
covered when implementing a 1:1 program.
It was a view from one person who experience from repairing many laptops
that has been dropped, mishandled, and reimaged many times in a given week
because of viruses while acquiring pirated movies and music. The discussion
was not about how technology was effectively used in education, but the
backend support of making sure technology works for the students. The
school had their techs become certified so their total coverage warranty
would cover physical damage.
This is the other part of supporting technology we have to consider. Who
would fix the stuff when it breaks? Do you have the manpower to hire people
to fix it? Do students feel they have ownership of the laptop? Is there
internal politics behind the 1:1 that could hinder the inclusion of training
(time, money, resources, etc)?
Another thing to consider is the regular training for faculty to integrate
technology into their curriculum. Are faculty going to implement laptops
into their curriculum because otherwise students would use it for taking
notes.
We don't have a 1:1 program here, but we have a laptop cart for each dept.
We simply don't have the manpower and money to support every student here
with laptop problems.
If I were to implement a 1:1, I'm sure I would ask for your help because
there would be many issues that would need to be discussed. :)
Brian Lee
Manlius Pebble Hill School
> From: "Gary S. Stager" <district@stager.org>
> Reply-To: A forum for independent school educators <ISED-L@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU>
> Date: Sun, 11 Oct 2009 23:40:55 -0700
> To: <ISED-L@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU>
> Subject: Re: Approaches to 1:1
>
> Greetings from New Zealand,
>
> Why do schools and educators continue to behave as if there is no
> accumulated knowledge about laptops in education?
>
> IMHO, viewing the protean device for intellectual and creative work as
> either a pencil (10 cent or $2,000) means that particular school
> leader's vision of learning and modernity is remarkably immature and
> not to be taken seriously.
>
> Perpetuating myths about student mistreatment of laptops contributes
> little to the discussion and runs contrary to realities in countless
> thousands of classrooms across the globe.
>
> I led professional development in the world's first "laptop schools"
> more than nineteen years ago and have worked with countless public,
> private and international schools interested in seizing the potential
> of truly personal computing for intellectual and creative development.
>
> I would be happy to consult with any school interested in the
> effective implementation of 1:1 computing and committed to sustaining
> such innovation into the future.
>
> Best Wishes,
>
> Gary S. Stager, Ph.D.
> http://stager.org/
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