Moving at the Speed of Creativity

Is 1:1 a Panacea?

Published by Wesley Fryer in 1:1, apple on January 8th, 2006

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I visited Apple Computer’s updated website on 1:1 computing this evening, and was particularly drawn to the “What Educators are Saying” page. Here are the paraphrased summaries of educator quotes about 1:1 learning reflecting their perceptions of what has happened as a result of a laptop initiative in which they have been or are involved:

Incredible student engagement
Improved test scores
Creating knowledge
Making a difference
Supporting visual learners
Improved attendance
Inspiring teachers
Raising achievement among at-risk students
Extending the school day
Nonstop learning
Balancing the playing field
Opening up the world for students
More learning happening
Drop in absences
Focus on learning

Is one to one learning with laptop computers a panacea for all that ails us in education? Arriving at this conclusion after reading extensively on Apple’s 1:1 Learning website or elsewhere would be a mistake, I think. Yes, one to one laptop immersion programs can be transformative for teaching and learning, and have been in some cases. My personal belief is that the leadership and vision of the educators involved: the teachers, the principals, and the other district administrators, are the keys to success. How can we measure and prove that in an academic, research sense? I am not sure. But I am positive that giving teachers and students computer technology is not a guarantee that high quality teaching and learning will ensue.

Laptop learning is the future of education, in the US and elsewhere. It is just a matter of time. Thankfully, time is “on our side” when it comes to the financial formulas for this prospect. But the teaching and learning side of the equation is really the key.

I have been saving to my del.icio.us social bookmarks for 1:1 several of the links I have found recently, including several new research reports. Whether you are not a Mac fan, Apple’s listing of schools doing 1:1 projects (obviously with iBooks) is impressive. That list is large, growing, and only going to get larger in the months and years to come. (The first picture on that page is incidentally of students at Floydada JHS, just outside Lubbock, Texas, where I live.)