Seeing No Progress, Some Schools Drop Laptops
Seeing No Progress, Some Schools Drop Laptops
Submitted by pnelson on Fri, 05/04/2007 - 5:02pm.
1:1
This article in the NY Times offers a blistering critique of 1:1 laptop programs. Without data, don't expect to be successful with your 1:1 programs.
So far, Powell Butte, Tumalo and Tom McCall students have taken the NETS online survey. Results may be viewed online. Send me an email if you'd like the access url.
If you have not taken the survey, see this post: http://k12partners.org/node/85
Even if we do have great data at the end of next year, I wonder how much of the success will be because of the infusion of training and technology into the classroom. Would we be getting the same results with fewer computers?
;-) Paul
Steve Prull
Director of Instructional Technology
High Desert ESD Redmond, OR 97756
541-693-5642
At the ACPE conference it was very interesting to hear from keynote speaker Bette Manchester about the Maine 1:1 project. In the breakout session she indicated that after 5 years they are just getting to the place where they have enough data to have some meaningful evaluation! She stressed that professional development must be sustained and embedded - regardless of what technology is being infused (SmartBoards, Document cameras, laptops, etc)
While I look forward to the end of school survey, I believe the 3+ months that our program will have been in place will not allow anyone to draw meaningful conclusions about it's effectivness. I would hope that the legislature and others observers have realistic expectations - that perhaps after 3 years of well planned implementation, sustained professional development, and a properly designed assessment methodology, we may be positioned to have a preliminary understanding of the effects of the program on student achievment.
Steve