Laptop Integration

Description

Technology is becoming a "must" in our world.  All children need to be proficient in their use of various types of technology.  In order for this to happen, integration of technology at all levels needs to be implemented.  A laptop in the hands of every child is shown to have positive outcomes.

Findings

The article "Research:  What It Says About 1 to 1 Learning", states that providing laptop computers and Internet access to students for use at home and school are expanding rapidly across the globe.  The goals of the 1 to 1 Computing Initiatives include:  academic achievement, equity, economic development, and enhancing teaching.  Studies have shown that students are using laptops for writing, homework assignments, email, web browsers, etc.  They are not being involved in project-based learning as hoped.  Studies show the reason for this is that the students' teachers are in an "adaptation" stage of technology and are only modeling what they know how to use.  This is why professional development and technical support are critical for implementation.  Use of the NTeQ modeled is mentioned to help with teachers becoming more "student-centered" in their teaching.  The use of 1:1 student computer ratios has shown positive effects.  The students used computers more across the curriculum, used computers at home for academic purposes, and there was less large-group instruction.  However, more research is needed that examines both outcomes and implementation if further major investments in 1 to 1 initiatives are to be warranted by the research base.

The article "Lesson Learned About Providing Laptops for All Students", supports one-to-one student-to-computer learning.  Reasons cited are economic competitiveness, raising student achievement through specific interventions, improving classroom culture, making it easier to differentiate instruction according to students' needs, and solidifying home-school connection.  To help with the challenge of these initiatives, five main areas are addressed that:  1. Planning - goals, leadership team, funding, logistics.  2. Teaching & Professional Development - curriculum integration, flexibility, train parents.  3.  Hardware & software - necessary tools, infrastructure.  4.  Managing Change - allow time, gradual change.  5.  Monitoring & Evaluation - ongoing, conduct research and studies.  In conclusion, Bette Manchester (about the laptop initiative in Maine), "is not about the technology; it is about the students' learning and the about capacity building in schools" (Manchester, 2004).

Reflections

All the articles related to this 1 to 1 initiative mentioned students in middle school and high school.  I say start in the primary grades with each child having a laptop.  Money and funding aside, I know what first graders can do on a computer.  Young children are like sponges and not afraid of trying and learning something new.  I sat in the computer lab today with my class as they received instruction from the technology teacher.  She modeled an activity, using all the skills learned this year, and then gave them an assignment.  The children went right to work.  I listened as they talked to each other, asked questions, etc.  How powerful it would be to have students on their own computer everyday versus once a week for 50 minutes in the lab.  I have 2 computers in the classroom, but that limits what can be done compared to each one having their own access.  Research stated reading and writing scores were higher when using this initiative.  For primary students, writing a story in the computer is sometimes easier if fine motor skills aren?t developed.  Our district had a program called SchoolVista.  Students could send ?post-it? notes to other students in the school.  Lots of reading and writing involved with this!  I?m not sure about the depth of project-based learning I could use, but with support and professional development, I would give it my best shot.  In our district, I foresee this as being a school initiative versus a district one.  I have seen other pilot technology programs start and unfortunately dwindle because not enough support and professional development was offered.  I strongly agree with the five areas to follow in the article by Bonifaz.

Posted at 09:25PM Jun 01, 2006 by ALLEN, LYNNE in General  |  Comments[2]