Challenges+that+would+result+from+a+one-to-one+student+laptop+initiative

Opportunities that a one-to-one student laptop initiative would provide Key understandings to support your recommendations Recommendation Bibliography Research Group Homepage

Challenges ü That appropriate policies and procedures be devised and adhered to including consequences for inappropriate use of laptops (Livingston) ü That there is adequate tech support (Livingston) and (Lane, 2004)   • Teachers need time and adequate PD to make it work (Lane, 2004)     ü That the computers chosen are capable of running the many programs demanded by the curriculum (Review of State and National Laptop Initiatives-North Broward Preparatory) ü Getting teachers comfortable with the technology (Review of State and National Laptop Initiatives-Moton Elementary School) ü If the teaching style is “instructionist” extensive professional development is required to model ways of integrating project based learning into the curriculum. (Review of State and National Laptop Initiatives-Howard Middle School) ü The use of laptops would ideally promote the extended use of the user-created content; however, assessing and “capturing a portfolio of work, when much of that work takes place in new media forms like blogs, podcasts, and videos, poses a problem for learners. . .” and teachers ("The Horizon Project").

ü Professional development for teachers, in order to help them become effective facilitators and creators of lessons using laptops as tool, can be difficult and time consuming. In Missouri, 2 year professional development program was needed in order to properly train teachers (Pitler, et al). At ISB, the average length of stay for teachers is 4.76 years (Liu), so depending on when a teacher starts his/her professional development for effective teaching strategies in the use of laptops as tool, it could end up not benefiting the school if the teacher leaves within or just after that 2 year training period (if our training period would be of the same length). Teacher's that are recruited with lower technical abilities can make the PD process difficult for those individuals.

ü Ensuring the PD is done during the day (not on teachers’ time), focusing on the teaching, not always the technology and when teachers have the energy will be a challenge. The PD should respond to teachers’ needs and be just in time, not just in case. Opportunities need to be provided for teachers to share, talk, and problem solve (“Doing 1to1 Right. . .”).

ü “According to the Florida STaR Chart, 25% of technology funds should be devoted to ongoing professional development at the ‘Advanced’ level” (Barrios, et al). ü “According to the most recent STaR Survey of Florida schools, two-thirds of professional development time related to technology is spent on learning to use applications and only 28% is devoted to curriculum integration of technology. A common teacher complaint in existing laptop initiatives is that not enough time is spent on technology integration. Often teachers are taught how to use a program, but not shown how to integrate it into their curriculum. The knowledge gained in training quickly fades because it is not put to use in the classroom” (Barrios, et al). ü “. . . a 1:1 laptop initiative will increase the demand on network capacity as students connect to school servers and out to the Internet” (Barrios, et al).

Assessment Techniques in Maine • A laptop program does not necessarily change teachers' assessment practices. (Beaudry 2004) Achievement targets must still be clearly communicated to students. In fact, the "open-ended nature of the internet" (Beaudry 2004) can actually make assignment achievement targets less clear. (Beaudry, 2004) Keep in mind that this study had a small sample size and more importantly was done after only two years of the laptop program's start. It would take time for teachers to change how they teach and how they assess students would take even longer. With time and specific PD in the area of technology and assessment I suspect this would change. 1203154454      