Tim Wilson and Scott Roiger’s presentation from last week on the Hopkins (Minnesota) 1-to-1 computing project is available as a podcast. Interesting that because of the unique characteristics, the Hopkins school board did not implement their laptop initiative with the goal of improving test scores. This may be an incidental outcome, but it is not something they are planning to track and expecting to see, according to Tim’s presentation. In the Hopkins district, all the teachers and students in a single grade level are immersed on one campus. So when the students move on to the next grade level, they don’t currently get to keep their laptops– but the teachers do. The reason (Tim explains in the podcast) is because the teachers are the key to immersion success, and the time and training that the district is investing in them requires continuity.
I find this quite interesting because in our 2 year TxTIP immersion project involving 22 junior high schools statewide, my perception is that the impact of immersion on test scores will be one of the most important things policymakers and others will look out. Maybe the Hopkins school board has a more realistic perspective when it comes to to expecting measurable test score benefits from 1:1 immersion initiatives? (at least speedy ones)
Hopkins teachers participating in the immersion project have reported that laptops are “the best tool for differentiating instruction.” Good teachers use all the tools at their disposal to help students authentically engage in learning– differentiating to me means trying to reach every learner, in the way that is most relevant and effective for them. Bob Sprankle’s “Podcasting with Purpose” audio recording from August 4th, 2005 is a great case study in using technology to differentiate instruction as well, which I blogged about back in August.
Laptops for everyone (students and teachers) and the tools of the read/write web can make a dynamite combination for those wanting to acquire authentic digital literacy skills in the early twenty-first century. But it all comes down to the teacher and what types of assignments and authentic knowledge tasks he/she assigns for students. Good teaching matters! And so do visionary, supportive, instructionally-aware administrators! 🙂
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On this day..
- Don’t Get Tricked Online – A Media Literacy Lesson – 2019
- Amazed by Edgar’s Design Creativity in Minecraft – 2014
- Photographic Highlights and Mapping Media Learning from NW Illinois – 2013
- Innovative Learning Institute in Norman: Nov 6, 2012 – 2012
- Digital Magazines: Text Plus Multimedia – 2011
- When Parents Don’t Want Student Email – 2011
- Mirroring an iPad with iOS 5 & Apple TV – 2011
- Platforms for Interactively Sharing Student Work – 2010
- AudioBoo provides a great opportunity to record and share holiday memories – 2010
- The Research on Teaching Animation Design Art by Yang Huansong – 2009