Opportunities+and+Challenges

· Better prepare students for the college/workplace environment – laptop/pc/wireless use is ubiquitous in higher education · Provides improved access through anywhere, anytime access for students, teachers and administrators. · Enables students to operate in multi-lingual environments · Supports the development of 21st century skills - information, communication and interpersonal skills, thinking and problem-solving and collaboration. I think we should add a statement that projected areas of growth for future jobs are in the areas requiring **creativity** while push-button, instruction-following jobs will become outsourced or run performed by machines. 1204025041
 * Opportunities **
 * 1:1 computing will better enable students to meet the challenges of the 21st Century **

· Provides personal access to powerful, interactive, and authentic computer applications · Enables students to be better organized, to get their work done more quickly, and with better quality · Increase student writing productivity and quality · Allows students to be more active, productive, and intellectually curious in their learning. · Enables individualized, differentiated, self-paced, self-directed learning · Supporting for all types of learners…ESL, visual learners…increasing quality and quantity of their work · Provides quick, easy testing and fast, reliable feedback on student learning · Improved integration with home learning · Facilitates organization, record-keeping, and other administrative tasks. I'm not sure if we want to actually write the part in the second bullet: //"work done more quickly and with better quality..."// Because all indications are they might not. Benefits of one-to-one are rarely this obvious. Also, perhaps we can reword //Improved integration with home learning...// to something like learning is not confined to the 4 walls of the classroom. Lastly: I think we need to add something like there is increased capacity for asynchronous contact and collaboration between students, teachers, admin, and parents through tools like IM, wiki, blog, etc.1204274077
 * Laptops provide a platform for enhancing teaching, learning, communication and assessment **

· Anywhere, anytime access to technology for integration in learning and teaching – no interruptions with running to a lab or checking out laptops – less distraction/interruption · Focus moves away from the technology itself and more onto content/context/processes · Provides access to a greater range of digital and multimedia resources ·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> Enables teachers to develop instruction that advance higher level learning skills and project based learning ·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> Students and teachers become more technologically literate. I don't like the term "project based learning" and don't think it is really what we mean. A project-based approach can easily be done without one-to-one access. What we really mean (I think?) is a move away from "instructionism" and toward [|constructivism]. 1204274077
 * Laptops provide students and teachers the opportunity for improved integration of technology within the curriculum **

·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> Allows for flexible learning environments and brings the resources to where they are needed whether it’s in the classroom, outside the classroom, the library, or field trips… ·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> Students develop higher order thinking skills - collecting, analyzing, and synthesizing information for research skills ·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> Students learn from a variety of sources and develop critical literacy skills by considering multiple perspectives, bias and evidence ·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> Improved access to information and resources. Further to the first point... where AND WHEN they're needed... 1204274077
 * Laptops will enable students/teachers greater access to information to support learning **

·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> Help make connections between concepts/theories from classroom to the real-life/world – realistic ·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> learning ·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> Students can participate in real-world environments (scientists, doctors, lawyers, filmmakers, authors etc.) ·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> Enables collaborative, project-based/inquiry-based learning and student-centred, constructivist learning and teaching ·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> Enables fast and easy collaboration, despite time, place, and distance. ·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> Access otherwise difficult to access places (virtual museums, cities, etc.) ·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> Allow many existing computer rooms to be re-purposed as classrooms <Students can become an essential part of the tech team that troubleshoot and help solve problems with the laptops for students, teachers and admin in the school. 1204082070 > I don't get the reference to participate in real-world environments... what does that mean? Also, suggest to add something about making the invisible visible. Computer animation and simulation are really useful to visualizing concepts that are abstract.1204274077
 * Laptops provide the opportunity for students to engage in authentic learning experiences **

·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> What are the goals ·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> What are the criteria for success for parents, faculty, students ·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> How would the initiative be evaluated (quantitative costs for qualitative educational benefits) <Add your comments/changes here, sign with 4 "~" characters>
 * Challenges **
 * The value of a laptop initiative must be clearly defined, agreed and evaluated. **

·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> Support changes in teaching and learning practices, beliefs and curriculum required of faculty to achieve the potential benefits of student laptop use ·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> Teachers need both intensive initial and ongoing training, particularly in the areas of integration strategies, content specific programs, classroom management, and technology trouble-shooting. ·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> If the teaching style is “instructionist” extensive professional development is required to model ways of integrating project based learning into the curriculum ·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> The PD should respond to teachers’ needs and be just in time, not just in case. ·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> Laptops provided to teachers ·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> Technical computer abilities <Add your comments/changes here, sign with 4 "~" characters>
 * Teacher practice will be a critical success factor, both as a start-up initiative, and an ongoing development. **

·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> Teacher and parent resistance to the purchase of laptops ·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> The lifecycle of a laptop and the costs during that lifecycle, hardware and software specifications ·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> Additional costs to parents, e.g. multiple laptops (for multiple students), home networking, internet ·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> Clearly define the roles and responsibilities of parents, teachers and students ·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> What will effective daily use of laptops look like? At school? At home? Elsewhere? ·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> How is a student laptop initiative prioritized and balanced in relation to all other ISB initiatives? <Add your comments/changes here, sign with 4 "~" characters>
 * Student laptops are not a panacea - it is important that the community be fully aware of the potential and the challenges. **

·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> Increased cost of network infrastructure (wireless access points, security, monitoring systems, storage, backup, Internet access) ·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> An efficient, multi-layered system of technical support - increased demands on technical support and technical personnel ·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> Remodelling student lockers to allow for safe and secure storage of laptops ·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> Changes to classroom furniture to accommodate students and laptops <Add your comments/changes here, sign with 4 "~" characters>
 * Additional infrastructure will be required to support additional computers, users and network traffic. **

·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> Purchasing English language software in China ·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> Maintaining consistency across the community ·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> General software e.g. MS Office, virus protection ·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> Short term use of subject specific software (Photoshop, PageMaker) – ownership purchasing <There is a lot of excellent freeware and shareware out there that can help cut costs in this area. One of the reports referenced in the Research Group's report had a list of free software available for the core tasks a student would pursue in a variety of classes in a 1-1 laptop school. Furthermore, with Web 2.0 applications proliferating, a lot activities/work can be produced online, as well, with many of the applications having free sign-up for basic use. This could eliminate the need for some software. 1204082070 > I totally agree with what Thomas has said here. I really don't think we will need a huge budget for additional software. This of course is also variable depending on the OS platform of the laptop. Some platforms come with powerful tools for video, audio, web authoring, etc. [|out of the box]. 1204274077
 * Access to software tools for learning and teaching. **

·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> Choose the implementation model -<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> School owned laptops vs student owned laptops vs school leased laptops vs individual leased -<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> Which grades – start with one or two and roll out vs mass implementation ·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> Laptop specifications and supply model, choosing model vendors, multiple vendors or single vendor, identifying specifications that are viable for a number of years, the role and responsibility of vendors ·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> Provide parent education, guidelines for laptop maintenance, home networking and security issues ·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> Planning for students temporarily not having their laptop available -<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> Loaner/hire costs for short term use due to laptop loss or failure -<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> Minimizing lesson disruption <Add your comments/changes here, sign with 4 "~" characters>
 * Success of any student laptop initiative is contingent upon thoroughly addressing implementation issues. **