Russell Smith's BLOGical
- All
- General
The Benefits of 1-to-1 Laptop computers in the classroom
One of the fastest-spreading trends in education at the point involves the integration of technology in the curriculum at every level, from elementary school all the way through high school. The ever-changing technological advance in how computers can be applied in the business world has necessitated the training of students in the use of computers and technology applications. One major obstacle to the growth of technology in the classroom has been accessibility and availability of computers; there are not enough computers in an average classroom to adequately accommodate the number of students. As a result, many teachers have not been able to fully integrate the use of technology in the classroom as they would like. The implementation of 1:1 laptops initiatives in areas such as the
In terms of how a 1:1 laptop classroom can be effective in changing how an educator conducts their lessons, a study conducted by Russell, Bebell, and Higgins indicated that 1:1 classrooms had a distinct advantage over classrooms with 1 computer for every 4 students, or even classrooms with 1 computer for every 2 students. In 1:1 classrooms, students used computers more for topics that spanned the curriculum and also used them more for academic purposes at home. They incorporated the use of computers into every phase of the writing process. In 1:1 classrooms, there was less large-group instruction than in traditional classrooms. Students were able to use computers for a wider variety of applications than did students in traditional classrooms. (Research: What it Says about 1:1 Learning)
In a study conducted by Deborah Lowther, Steven Ross, and Gary Morrison, students in a 1:1 laptop classroom demonstrated better computer skills, increased knowledge of how to conduct research on the Internet, improved writing skills, and overall increased attention to their products and design. These students, when surveyed at the end of a school year when they used their laptops on a regular basis for their class work, indicated that they were glad to have had the laptops and 78% indicated that they wanted to have access to them the following year. Students used these computers for numerous school-based activities, such as conducting research for projects, checking class Web pages for assignment information, chatting with classmates online about class projects, or communicating with the teacher about assignments.
Using laptops in the classroom would definitely create numerous opportunities for teachers to design new and interactive projects to enhance students? learning. For example, in an elementary classroom, students could use a spreadsheet application to register the height of each person in the classroom in inches and use that data to construct a bar graph representing everyone in the class. In Music class, they could research information about famous musicians online in order to write a play that would demonstrate the differences and similarities that musicians from different eras would have. In Language Arts, students could research the settings of different Shakespeare plays and construct a timeline of Shakespeare?s life, as well as create a map showing his travels or where his plays took place. In a science class, a student could use a digital camera and create a website that demonstrates the different types of soil that are found in his neighborhood.
Although the implementation of laptop computers for every student in a classroom would be costly and complicated to execute, the benefits of the use of these computers would eventually justify their use. Student participation would increase, as would student interest, as well as their performance academically. Taking steps to put a program in place would, in time, make students better prepared to take their place in the modern working world.
Posted at 12:46PM Sep 25, 2006 by rjsmith3 in General | Comments[0]