Top Posts # 6 - Looking Back At Year One of 1:1 (With iPads) - Part One

As I look to unplug a bit during the first week of summer vacation, I am continuing to repost my top posts from last year. Below is #6 from last June.

As I reflect on our first year as a 1:1 school, I am overwhelmed by the insights that we gained after distributing over 1,000 mobile devices to our students in grades 9-12. As I look at the data from an end-of-the-year survey completed by students, I am reminded of an excerpt from Milton Chen's book Education Nation - Six Leading Edges of Innovation in our Schools.  Chapter 3 of the book is titled The Technology Edge: Putting Modern Tools in Young Hands.

There is a great excerpt from the Abilene, Kansas High School Dialogue Buzz Website that sums up what we will do for students when we create a 1:1 environment for our students

Here's the excerpt:

Let’s have a little competition at school and get ready for the future. I will use a laptop and you will use paper and pencil. Are you ready…?

• I will access up-to-date information - you have a textbook that is 5 years old. 

• I will immediately know when I misspell a word – you have to wait until it’s graded. 

• I will learn how to care for technology by using it – you will read about it. 

• I will see math problems in 3D – you will do the odd problems. 

• I will create artwork and poetry and share it with the world – you will share yours with the class. 

• I will have 24/7 access – you have the entire class period. 

• I will access the most dynamic information – yours will be printed and photocopied. 

• I will communicate with leaders and experts using email – you will wait for Friday’s speaker. 

• I will select my learning style – you will use the teacher’s favorite learning style. 

• I will collaborate with my peers from around the world – you will collaborate with peers in your classroom. 

• I will take my learning as far as I want – you must wait for the rest of the class.

 The cost of a laptop per year? - $250

The cost of teacher and student training? – Expensive

The cost of well educated US citizens and workforce? - Priceless

How important are the above bullets? By what criteria would you measure success in a 1:1 initiative?

I will be sharing the results of the student survey soon.