Journal 8

Choosing the Perfect Tools for One-to-One

Bouterse, Brian, Corn Jenifer O. & Halstead Elizabeth O. (2009, August). Choosing the perfect tools for one-to-one. Learning & Leading With Technology, [37(1)], [14-17].

The face of the traditional classroom has changed. Today, many schools and districts nationwide are using portable computers to create a one-to-one learning environment for the students and teachers. These portable computers allow flexible technology access for this new learning environment. But the change is not easy, schools & districts are faced with the challenge of maximizing learning at a sustainable cost by selecting the appropriate computing device. In order to best meet the needs of the students and teachers, the schools must select a computing device that best fits their specific situation. There are basically six questions that must be addressed in order to achieve these goals. They are:

• Will the computing device be used for a single purpose or as a multipurpose machine?
• What operating system can the school financially support?
• Does the school want to install local or web based applications, or both?
• Does the school want to install local or web based content, or both?
• Will the school be using peripheral equipment?
• What can the school do to protect the computing device from wear and tear of everyday use by students and staff?

Careful consideration and planning will provide important information needed to select the most appropriate portable computing device for a school or district's particular learning needs. There are also other questions to consider: the training of personnel to ensure they are able to proficiently use the equipment, the costs associated with connecting to the Internet, additional software applications to be purchased and the amount of money needed to to wire an existing physical location.

Question 1

Are schools left to face these issues alone?

No, there are companies like The Consortium of School Networking (CoSN) who specialize in evaluating the effective use of technology within K-12 learning environments.

Question 2

Are students and staff ready for changes such as this?

Yes, I believe students and staff are more than ready! In order to stay competitive within the learning environment, schools and districts must be ready and able to make changes which incorporate technology into education.