how does 1:1 change the way kids learn and the way teachers teach?

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Permalink Reply by Candice Walsh on July 7, 2009 at 12:24pm

Interesting that you said this.... I am in the process of doing something very similar. Check out my blog:

http://clwalsh.blogspot.com/

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Permalink Reply by Andrew Pass on July 7, 2009 at 12:54pm

I think unfortunately, too often, 1:1 does not change the way that students learn or teachers teach. Without the highest quality professional development, teachers simply do not know how to use 1:1 effectively. I'd also suggest that not enough educational resources (not apps. but curricular units and activities) exist to promote the highest quality learning opportunities.

In an ideal world, however, 1:1 would promote more student centered learning in which students could obtain the answers to questions that they generate from the learning experience. In the process, of course, they'd generate new questions.

www.lessontech.blogspot.com

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Permalink Reply by Vanessa Riley on July 11, 2009 at 12:09pm

Great post!

Just putting a worksheet on the computer or transcribing a lecture to PowerPoint is not 1:1 education. I can't say that enough.

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Permalink Reply by Ian Carmichael on July 11, 2009 at 4:34pm

And indeed, using a worksheet in hard-copy, or giving a lecture is - very often - not education (at any ratio.)

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Permalink Reply by Aparna Vashisht on July 11, 2009 at 12:24am

From a parent perspective, for some students, 1:1 learning is critical in making that jump. I recall spending hours with my son in Kindergarten. I think it helped. I am not a teacher but as a parent, I spent a considerable amount of time with him.

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Permalink Reply by Vanessa Riley on July 11, 2009 at 12:07pm

I'm starting my fourth year teaching at a 1:1 school, and I could give you an earful.

Technology isn't magic. It won't take a mediocre teacher and make her wonderful. Instead, I've seen the opposite. If you want higher order thinking going on in a classroom, you can't just assume that a laptop and projector will do it. If you have a classroom culture of silent reading, worksheets, and independent practice, it's going to be hard. the culture of the school has to change. Before 1:1 can work, teachers need to feel comfortable with best practices. They have to be comfortable taking a risk and admitting when something is not working. They need to be able to go to their peers and get constructive criticism.

A lot of people claim the technology is RELEVANT, and I'd like to address that. The technology won't make the curriculum relevant. Period. It's the teacher that does that. The technology makes it easier to show the relevancy, but it still all comes down to the teacher.

Other than that, I have never worked harder getting my classroom ready for 1:1. I did not expect to put that much time as I did in my classroom. Since most everything is now digital, I find I work from home a lot more frequently now.

I find that it was *WAY* easier for students to be off-task, unless you monitor them. Even with SchoolVue or the other programs that are out there, you still have to monitor them actively. My kids found LOTS of ways around the blocks/firewalls. I am a lot more active in my classroom now than I ever was.

But, I love it. I don't think I'd ever go back. They are way more interested in the assignments now, even if they have a tendency to be lazy.

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