As our children head back to school, technology in the classroom is one of many of the topics that parents will be discussing with teachers and administrators in the months ahead. Many agencies such as the Delaware Center For Educational Technology gather information and compile statistics on the number and use of computers in the classroom. The 2010 Technology Survey Results show a ratio of 2.6 students for every computer.
The numbers alone do not necessarily tell the full story. Some would say that in a perfect scenario there would be a ratio of one student for every computer. There is an ongoing series of programs throughout the United States with a one laptop per child model also know as a 1:1 Laptop Initiative. There is even a One-to-One Institute with a core belief that "the ideal is achieved when every student has a dedicated wireless device connected to the Internet for use anytime, anywhere."
Whether we are integrating technology into our classrooms, or our office space, the biggest mistake people make is figuring out which tools to buy, before they have a plan for what tasks they wish to accomplish.
The One Laptop Per Child model - Beyond the numbers game
There seems to be plenty of support for the thought of not merely having the proper tools, but knowing how to use them, as quoted in this edition of eSchool News, "Experts say 1-to-1 computing research needs to focus more on classroom practices—and less on equipment"
A July 2010 article in THE Journal: Technological Horizons in Education, the education technology news magazine for K-12 district leaders, addresses the issue of the One Laptop Per Child model as well, "bridging the digital divide takes more than just equipment. It also requires administrative and teacher buy-in, student and parent participation, and a dedication to automating the traditional classroom."
True technology integration involves more that just a teacher showing a student how to use a computer as a tool, it involves the collaboration of teachers, school leaders, students, parents, and the community at large to work together to fully integrate the technology into the educational process.
Follow this link to download a publication of the Journal of Technology, Learning, and Assessment published in January, 2010. It provides a great deal of information on the one laptop per child model, detailing the issues with the program, and outlining a plan to make the program work.
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Comments
I remember when all you needed for school was a scientific calculator! Now what does that tell you? All these fancy gadgets for school...maybe this is the reason the school systems are so badly in debt. I think somewhere along the line we forgot about teaching children to read and write. I am all for technology, but you have to draw the line at some point. I really don't think a child in kindergarden needs an I-Pad or personal computer. Thanks for sharing...things are so much different now.
Boy how things have changed in the school classroom. Computers were monsters of machines back when I was a kid, and people didn't even think to include them as curriculum. It's sad when a child doesn't have the means for this type of technology at home, and it's a requirement these days.
ain't technology great?! The schools are caught in a vicious cycle of constantly replacing and upgrading their technological resources. Very expensive proposition - but between "no child left behind" and being able to deliver instruction in a 21st century mode - they just have to do it. Not all kids have access to their own laptops at home - so they depend upon the school systems all that much more.
~ Rich Webster
Things used to be so simple for back-to-school shopping, now there are so many things to get.
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