Comments on: Oklahoma Students: Modeling Digital Education and 1 to 1 Learning http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2008/02/17/oklahoma-students-modeling-digital-education-and-1-to-1-learning/ Sat, 22 Nov 2008 03:38:43 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Integrating English and Technology » Week Three “Class Time” http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2008/02/17/oklahoma-students-modeling-digital-education-and-1-to-1-learning/#comment-50443 Integrating English and Technology » Week Three “Class Time” Mon, 24 Mar 2008 13:02:36 +0000 http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2008/02/17/oklahoma-students-modeling-digital-education-and-1-to-1-learning/#comment-50443 [...] have access to mobile technology (laptops, iPods, etc.) as part of their education. Wesley Fryer writes about a school that is at that very tipping point, and he shares this video. It’s a great [...] [...] have access to mobile technology (laptops, iPods, etc.) as part of their education. Wesley Fryer writes about a school that is at that very tipping point, and he shares this video. It’s a great [...]

]]> By: Notebooks » Blog Archive » Oklahoma Students: Modeling Digital Education and 1 to 1 Learning http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2008/02/17/oklahoma-students-modeling-digital-education-and-1-to-1-learning/#comment-49505 Notebooks » Blog Archive » Oklahoma Students: Modeling Digital Education and 1 to 1 Learning Sat, 01 Mar 2008 07:15:46 +0000 http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2008/02/17/oklahoma-students-modeling-digital-education-and-1-to-1-learning/#comment-49505 [...] unknown just wrote an article aboutHere’s a preview of it: [...] [...] unknown just wrote an article aboutHere’s a preview of it: [...]

]]> By: Wesley Fryer http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2008/02/17/oklahoma-students-modeling-digital-education-and-1-to-1-learning/#comment-49034 Wesley Fryer Wed, 20 Feb 2008 03:37:48 +0000 http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2008/02/17/oklahoma-students-modeling-digital-education-and-1-to-1-learning/#comment-49034 Gary: I say learning is a combination of transmission and construction. I listened to the latest Seedlings podcast yesterday on my iPod as I commuted to and from a school district. Absent the transmission of that audio recording, via the Internet, via my iPod, into my ears, I wouldn't have been able to have that learning experience. The transmission act itself did not result in the learning, it required me to receive, process, and think about the ideas that were shared. That is what I am considering the constructive process. It takes both. I don't think this is a stretch or a compromise. In terms of praising Howe, I agree they need to let students take laptops home-- but I am living in a state where only ONE public school district has EVER let kids take laptops home, and that was Frontier PS in the late 1990s. Now we have three districts with laptop projects, and 2 of them are going to let the kids take the laptops home. I live in a school district where, based on what I know, there are ZERO laptops for student use, even on carts. I'm not an advocate for laptop carts as an end-goal for educational computing, but even laptop carts for students to use at school are better than none. Believe me, I want to advocate for the educational revolution we need, and help bring it about. Change is happening in our schools incrementally tho, and I certainly want to celebrate school districts and school leaders who are going in what I consider to be the "right" direction. Yes, it's evolution and not revolution. That is the only way we're seeing change with regard to laptop learning in our state, tho, from what I've seen to date. If we are approaching a tipping point it seems a LONG way off. We have to support models of success for laptop learning so that others can follow suit. I had a long conversation with some of the educators and leaders working in one of our leading laptop districts today-- and one of them mentioned how everyone always has an excuse to say why they can't do it. You can't do it in a poor district, you can't do it in a large district, etc, etc. I am tired of the excuses too, but I am going to do everything I can to support those who are blazing this trail of laptop learning at a local level, so they can be successful and examples to others who are the "yeah, but" people.... (I'm borrowing that phrase from <a href="http://homepage.mac.com/torres21/" rel="nofollow">Marco Torres</a>. Gary: I say learning is a combination of transmission and construction. I listened to the latest Seedlings podcast yesterday on my iPod as I commuted to and from a school district. Absent the transmission of that audio recording, via the Internet, via my iPod, into my ears, I wouldn’t have been able to have that learning experience. The transmission act itself did not result in the learning, it required me to receive, process, and think about the ideas that were shared. That is what I am considering the constructive process. It takes both. I don’t think this is a stretch or a compromise.

In terms of praising Howe, I agree they need to let students take laptops home– but I am living in a state where only ONE public school district has EVER let kids take laptops home, and that was Frontier PS in the late 1990s. Now we have three districts with laptop projects, and 2 of them are going to let the kids take the laptops home. I live in a school district where, based on what I know, there are ZERO laptops for student use, even on carts. I’m not an advocate for laptop carts as an end-goal for educational computing, but even laptop carts for students to use at school are better than none. Believe me, I want to advocate for the educational revolution we need, and help bring it about. Change is happening in our schools incrementally tho, and I certainly want to celebrate school districts and school leaders who are going in what I consider to be the “right” direction. Yes, it’s evolution and not revolution. That is the only way we’re seeing change with regard to laptop learning in our state, tho, from what I’ve seen to date. If we are approaching a tipping point it seems a LONG way off. We have to support models of success for laptop learning so that others can follow suit.

I had a long conversation with some of the educators and leaders working in one of our leading laptop districts today– and one of them mentioned how everyone always has an excuse to say why they can’t do it. You can’t do it in a poor district, you can’t do it in a large district, etc, etc. I am tired of the excuses too, but I am going to do everything I can to support those who are blazing this trail of laptop learning at a local level, so they can be successful and examples to others who are the “yeah, but” people…. (I’m borrowing that phrase from Marco Torres.

]]> By: Gary Stager http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2008/02/17/oklahoma-students-modeling-digital-education-and-1-to-1-learning/#comment-49020 Gary Stager Tue, 19 Feb 2008 16:52:01 +0000 http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2008/02/17/oklahoma-students-modeling-digital-education-and-1-to-1-learning/#comment-49020 Who says that learning is the result of transmission? Isn't "blended" learning just a political compromise implying a respect for the learner while teachers retain all of the power and agency? Teaching, with students straying a wee bit from the curricular path isn't a new form of learning. It is teaching. This seems to me to be another example of the widespread confusion between teaching and learning. BTW: Why the effusive praise for a district with laptops that kids can't take home? That misses the point and disrespects children on so many levels that it negates any good stuff the adults might do in the classroom. In my humble opinion. Who says that learning is the result of transmission?

Isn’t “blended” learning just a political compromise implying a respect for the learner while teachers retain all of the power and agency? Teaching, with students straying a wee bit from the curricular path isn’t a new form of learning. It is teaching.

This seems to me to be another example of the widespread confusion between teaching and learning.

BTW: Why the effusive praise for a district with laptops that kids can’t take home? That misses the point and disrespects children on so many levels that it negates any good stuff the adults might do in the classroom. In my humble opinion.

]]> By: Wesley Fryer http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2008/02/17/oklahoma-students-modeling-digital-education-and-1-to-1-learning/#comment-48981 Wesley Fryer Tue, 19 Feb 2008 02:21:34 +0000 http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2008/02/17/oklahoma-students-modeling-digital-education-and-1-to-1-learning/#comment-48981 Thanks for sharing the link! Irving ISD is one of the "exceptions to the pattern" districts I've worked in a bit (last summer) where innovative things are happening with Windows-based systems. I particularly admire the focus of the Irving laptop initiative, which according to your CIO has always been about 21st century literacy skills, and never about raising test scores. TxTIP forced that to be an evaluation criteria, but from what I understand that was never a reason the laptop project was started in Irving. I know you all have much to teach the rest of us who have either not started the 1:1 learning journey, or are just getting started. I'll check out your discussion! Thanks for sharing the link! Irving ISD is one of the “exceptions to the pattern” districts I’ve worked in a bit (last summer) where innovative things are happening with Windows-based systems. I particularly admire the focus of the Irving laptop initiative, which according to your CIO has always been about 21st century literacy skills, and never about raising test scores. TxTIP forced that to be an evaluation criteria, but from what I understand that was never a reason the laptop project was started in Irving. I know you all have much to teach the rest of us who have either not started the 1:1 learning journey, or are just getting started.

I’ll check out your discussion!

]]> By: musingsfromtheacademy http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2008/02/17/oklahoma-students-modeling-digital-education-and-1-to-1-learning/#comment-48980 musingsfromtheacademy Tue, 19 Feb 2008 02:07:13 +0000 http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2008/02/17/oklahoma-students-modeling-digital-education-and-1-to-1-learning/#comment-48980 Wes, I teach in Irving, Texas, where we have one-to-one laptops at the high school level (that the kids do take home with them), and we have been discussing ways to restructure and sustain our implementation program. Thanks for writing about this topic and pointing out some positive attributes to effective one-to-one programs. You are welcome to join in our discussion and give us your opinion http://musingsfromtheacademy.wordpress.com/2008/02/14/one-to-one-laptops-what-makes-it-work/ Thanks again! Wes,

I teach in Irving, Texas, where we have one-to-one laptops at the high school level (that the kids do take home with them), and we have been discussing ways to restructure and sustain our implementation program.

Thanks for writing about this topic and pointing out some positive attributes to effective one-to-one programs.

You are welcome to join in our discussion and give us your opinion http://musingsfromtheacademy.wordpress.com/2008/02/14/one-to-one-laptops-what-makes-it-work/

Thanks again!

]]> By: Wesley Fryer http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2008/02/17/oklahoma-students-modeling-digital-education-and-1-to-1-learning/#comment-48975 Wesley Fryer Mon, 18 Feb 2008 23:55:06 +0000 http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2008/02/17/oklahoma-students-modeling-digital-education-and-1-to-1-learning/#comment-48975 I agree with you, of course, that the role of the teacher is vital and as important as ever. It is important to note that there are two broad camps of thinking in education, however, and one of these camps can theoretically support the replacement of the teacher-- particularly at secondary and higher ed levels. Those who view learning as solely a transmission process, where teachers are "filling a pail" (the mind of the student) can be replaced to a large extent by technology. Those who take a constructivist view can't. I take a middle view. Learning involves both the transmission of information as well as the personal reconstruction of ideas and schema around that content. That is why <a href="http://teachdigital.pbwiki.com/blendedlearning" rel="nofollow">I am a staunch advocate for "blended learning" in various forms.</a> I agree with you, of course, that the role of the teacher is vital and as important as ever. It is important to note that there are two broad camps of thinking in education, however, and one of these camps can theoretically support the replacement of the teacher– particularly at secondary and higher ed levels. Those who view learning as solely a transmission process, where teachers are “filling a pail” (the mind of the student) can be replaced to a large extent by technology. Those who take a constructivist view can’t. I take a middle view. Learning involves both the transmission of information as well as the personal reconstruction of ideas and schema around that content. That is why I am a staunch advocate for “blended learning” in various forms.

]]> By: Sarah http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2008/02/17/oklahoma-students-modeling-digital-education-and-1-to-1-learning/#comment-48963 Sarah Mon, 18 Feb 2008 23:15:10 +0000 http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2008/02/17/oklahoma-students-modeling-digital-education-and-1-to-1-learning/#comment-48963 There’s a high school in the town in which I attend school that uses a 1:1 ratio for laptops for students, not in every classroom, but in many. The students are not allowed to take the computers home of course, but in the class I observed, the students could look up pictures on the internet or find stories, and complete and turn in their homework assignments online. I thought it was such a great thing. So I completely agree with your stance in this area. This will only happen gradually, but at least some schools have started. To take this in a different direction, I do not want the computers to completely overtake the role of the teacher. The teacher should still be able to teach and facilitate the learning and only use the computers as a tool to aide in the learning, not to do the teaching themselves. Otherwise high school would become even more monotonous and boring to some than it already is. There’s a high school in the town in which I attend school that uses a 1:1 ratio for laptops for students, not in every classroom, but in many. The students are not allowed to take the computers home of course, but in the class I observed, the students could look up pictures on the internet or find stories, and complete and turn in their homework assignments online. I thought it was such a great thing. So I completely agree with your stance in this area. This will only happen gradually, but at least some schools have started.
To take this in a different direction, I do not want the computers to completely overtake the role of the teacher. The teacher should still be able to teach and facilitate the learning and only use the computers as a tool to aide in the learning, not to do the teaching themselves. Otherwise high school would become even more monotonous and boring to some than it already is.

]]> By: Laptops for Students, Long Term Commitment « The MindOH! Blog http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2008/02/17/oklahoma-students-modeling-digital-education-and-1-to-1-learning/#comment-48929 Laptops for Students, Long Term Commitment « The MindOH! Blog Mon, 18 Feb 2008 15:06:06 +0000 http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2008/02/17/oklahoma-students-modeling-digital-education-and-1-to-1-learning/#comment-48929 [...] All this said, I don’t think these are reasons NOT to pursue getting laptops in the hands of kids (don’t let the double negatives there confuse you), but I am very curious to know more about school districts that have taken on similar programs, the challenges they’ve faced, and how they’ve combated the technical and financial difficulties. I’ve found several websites about programs, but I’m interested to hear some first hand perspective from parents/teachers/students of how this works on the ground level. Any one have some information to share? UPDATE: 2-18-08 This is a post on Oklahoma schools implementing laptop initiatives. [...] [...] All this said, I don’t think these are reasons NOT to pursue getting laptops in the hands of kids (don’t let the double negatives there confuse you), but I am very curious to know more about school districts that have taken on similar programs, the challenges they’ve faced, and how they’ve combated the technical and financial difficulties. I’ve found several websites about programs, but I’m interested to hear some first hand perspective from parents/teachers/students of how this works on the ground level. Any one have some information to share? UPDATE: 2-18-08 This is a post on Oklahoma schools implementing laptop initiatives. [...]

]]> By: Cindy Seibel http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2008/02/17/oklahoma-students-modeling-digital-education-and-1-to-1-learning/#comment-48923 Cindy Seibel Mon, 18 Feb 2008 13:59:32 +0000 http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2008/02/17/oklahoma-students-modeling-digital-education-and-1-to-1-learning/#comment-48923 Well done Oklahoma. Our district is also engaged in several 1:1 initiatives. A couple examples: a <a href="http://projects.cbe.ab.ca/sss/ilscommunity/learningspaces/laptop.asp" rel="nofollow">teacher 1:1 laptop project</a> and an <a href="http://projects.cbe.ab.ca/sss/ilscommunity/researchanddevelopment/p-mLearning.asp" rel="nofollow">mlearning for ESL students</a> that uses assistive technologies including laptops and mp3 players. We use both Apple and Windows computers, and we are a large urban district. Our schools each choose one predominant platform for their site. The challenges are not so much in using a Windows platform for learning as you suggest, but rather managing a mixed environment at the district level. We are also fortunate to have <a href="http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/story.html?k=24963&id=1a34afd0-c846-45e0-8cc4-ad30aaf2575d" rel="nofollow">ubiquitous wireless LAN capability</a>, also unusual for a large urban district (we found rural districts in North America with full wireless, but no urban districts in our search). We think the network is key to supporting the growth of 1:1 initiatives in our schools. We are tackling the issues associated with students taking the laptops home (risk loss, use liability, etc) through a test case at one of our schools. And we've designed a special student network that supports the use of student-owned devices without comprosing the district network. Would love to connect with other districts, especially large urbans, that are on this same path. Well done Oklahoma. Our district is also engaged in several 1:1 initiatives. A couple examples: a teacher 1:1 laptop project and an mlearning for ESL students that uses assistive technologies including laptops and mp3 players.

We use both Apple and Windows computers, and we are a large urban district. Our schools each choose one predominant platform for their site. The challenges are not so much in using a Windows platform for learning as you suggest, but rather managing a mixed environment at the district level.

We are also fortunate to have ubiquitous wireless LAN capability, also unusual for a large urban district (we found rural districts in North America with full wireless, but no urban districts in our search). We think the network is key to supporting the growth of 1:1 initiatives in our schools.

We are tackling the issues associated with students taking the laptops home (risk loss, use liability, etc) through a test case at one of our schools. And we’ve designed a special student network that supports the use of student-owned devices without comprosing the district network.

Would love to connect with other districts, especially large urbans, that are on this same path.

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