How do we ensure 1:1 access?

Access is the driving force behind global technology integration. With mobile devices and tablets coming of age, we have an opportunity to shift funding, vision, and efforts to get all students connected so that every student becomes the "smartest kid in the room". With a little creativity and a lot of effort, 1:1 access is happening. We're not talking about what we can do, we are saying what we are doing, right now. How is your school or organization doing this? Are iTouches and other mobile learning devices being deployed? How are you handling security and connectivity? Can students access WiFi at school with their own devices? Please share and come back often so we can all learn and grow together.

-Rich

Tags: 1:1, Android, access, equity, iPad, iPod, integration, security, tablets, technology

0 members like this

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Debra on December 1, 2010 at 9:37am

We are in tne process of researching the possibility of going 1:1 in our (private) school. I think we are probably in a different mode since we are an independant school. At the moment, our school is wireless in several spots with plans to increase the connectivity. Our lower school has a lab (that's where I teach), 2 common rooms with about 8-10 desktops and a cart with 18 laptops. One of our 5th grade classes recently got i-pads and have started using them. They have some i-pod touches but often lost the signal they needed so I don't think they were used as often as the teacher would have liked. She is the same one with the i-pads now. We are not sure where we are going to extend the 1:1 to right now (as far as just the high school, HS and middle, etc) but have been visiting schools and admins to talk about their process, pushback, etc.

Permalink Reply by Rich Kiker on December 1, 2010 at 12:36pm

One thing that I believe is critical for success is that you make the 1:1 platform non-specific. In other words, allow WiFi access that is secured off from the physical school network and everyone is allowed in the pool - Macs, netbooks, Android devices, iOS, and more. This model combined with embracing a level of cloud computing (Edmodo, Google Docs, Dropbox, etc.) will give you many options to ensure sustainability. If Burger King can offer open WiFi, why can't our schools?

Permalink Reply by Patrick Larkin on December 1, 2010 at 10:37am

Rich - We are looking at our move to 1:1 next year incorporating iPads for all students. We have a great new wireless infrastructure which will make this move easier. We are looking at buying the devices for the first few years with students having the option defraying the costs with a monthly fee and a buyout option when the graduate.

We are looking to have school-owned devices primarily so we can have more control, but I see the changing a few years down the road as we get more comfortable in our 1:1 environment.

Permalink Reply by Rich Kiker on December 1, 2010 at 11:28am

The monthly fee is unique and I can see how that could work real well. Any community resistance? Parents upset with the cost at all?

Permalink Reply by Patrick Larkin on December 1, 2010 at 3:37pm

Parents are pretty understanding about this since we do not have any user fees for anything in our school.

Permalink Reply by Tess Ausman on December 2, 2010 at 9:16am

Our county - in Monroe, NC - is starting a 1 to 1 with 6th and 7th graders in late January. The laptops are being provided (I think) with a $20 down payment from students, and those on free or reduced lunch may only have to pay $10 or nothing at all. I would be happy to share anything our county is doing to prepare for the 1 to 1.

Permalink Reply by Rich Kiker on December 2, 2010 at 11:04am

Very cool, is the down payment like a security deposit or do the students purchase the devices over time? Are the students permitted to take them home at night? If you have a link to share that would be great! Thanks for sharing!

Permalink Reply by Darin King on December 3, 2010 at 7:43pm

We have investigated this approach and our legal guidance indicates that using a user fee of any kind is not legal in our state. Any kind of fees in public education are illegal in our state. We will continue to question and pursue it, but right now it seems unlikely unless there is a change in state law. Activities fees are legal, because they are optional activities at the schools.

Permalink Reply by Darin King on December 3, 2010 at 2:11pm

We initiated several 1:1 pilots last year to support our district 1:1 planning process. We have a pilot of about 400 Asus netbooks spread out across all of our levels. In general, we have not had many issues once we dumped Windows 7 switched to Linux. We are very much into blogs, wikis, voicethread, Google docs, etc. in the pilot classrooms. We are still learning, but these pilot seem to have some promise. Netbooks are not sexy, but they seem to mitigate the whole electrical issue a traditional notebook has during a 7 hour school day.

We also implemented 300 iPod Touches, primarily for use by our Special Education teachers as intervention tools. While the use by the teachers and students has been very positive educationally, the management of these devices is problematic. Brutal actually. Apple will need to develop better enterprise level management tools before these devices can be considered in a large scale (>5000 student) implementation. They are devices meant to be managed by a single consumer, not an organization.

We are building out our wireless infrastructure to handle the increased density that a 1:1 will bring. We are moving to all 802.11n access points connected back to the closet with 1 gig Ethernet. It will take us a year or two, so we will focus the updates on the instructional areas in each building. We currently have around 200 managed AP's in our district and are currently testing density levels for a 1:1 deployment.

Permalink Reply by Marianna Kiva B.Ed; M.Ed on December 3, 2010 at 8:55pm

Hi,
I am new to this discussion, but not to the use of technology for teaching and learning. Our division is like many others long on ideas and short on funds. My school is one of the most advanced in terms of using technology in daily activities and in terms of technology for special needs students. I have been fortunate to have the financial support of my administrators and superintendents in purchasing and implementing technology in our classrooms. One of the difficult things to have is a decent tech-support system. Since all our tech issues are resolved through a special department, it is sometimes difficult to wait for people to come and “fix” things. However, I digressed from the issue that I wanted to address and that is the use of iPads in the schools.
I will be attending a discussion regarding iPads in the classroom at our divisional office and reading the posts is helping me gain information about these devices.

Permalink Reply by Martin Moran on December 3, 2010 at 3:54pm

My (independent) school has begun the discussion of 1:1 as well. There is a good debate to be had in terms of laptops versus IPads/Android Tablets.

While I haven't quite figured out where on the spectrum I fall, I wonder if the IPad model (in which students can get 3G service as well as WiFi) might mitigate network issues. I know, at our school, the number of devices on the network has skyrocketed recently. I feel like it would be terrific to be able to, when a network lags, have students switch to 3G service. While this might not be a realistic situation at public schools, it seems as if it might work at more affluent independent schools.

Permalink Reply by Marianna Kiva B.Ed; M.Ed on December 3, 2010 at 8:57pm

Hi,
What is 1:1. I have not heard that in the canadian schools.