One to One Computing is Already Passé
Written on 1:56 PM by Ur English Teacher
Ubiquitous access to the Internet is the way of the future NOT "one-to-one" computing. We do not believe in the "on-to-one" theory. We believe in access via the Internet to one's files and programs regardless of the device used. One-to-one computing focuses on the computer as the most important component of technological innovation and growth in education, but we believe that the innovation is in all the time, anywhere access regardless of the device used. It is not important to provide a laptop for a child in order to have innovative technological advances; it is important to provide children the opportunity to access the network and learn to navigate it to find the tools they need. "One-to-one" thinking is already passé.
Instead of picturing a student with his or her "own laptop" that he or she lugs from classroom to classroom then home, picture children using any computer available to do the same tasks, picking up their documents where they left off in their Web 2.0 tools, accessing the same document or file on the computer at the public library after school then again in the evening at home. He or she might use a Thin Client, then a desktop PC, then a notebook, and so on. The device and its ownership is irrelevant; "the network is everything" (Dr. Scott Barrett).
Posts
I agree! The possibilites are endless. I am looking forward to jumpstarting this next year with the Web PC's. Kids can access their "stuff" at home, in the next room, or even on the desktops in the room. Several years ago I struggled with kids being able to access their work from the lab, classroom, and at home. It was a daunting and at times frustrating task. I am looking so forward to seeing how we can weave in the technology this year so it will be a natural part of our day. Gone are the days when we plan projects just to use the technology.
Technology without walls, and students without limitations. Gee, the educational possibilities are endless now. The web PC’s and the abundance of free online software provides our students with a level technological playing field. We no longer need expensive software with a dozen licenses, and the hope that everything will work when we flip on the power. All we simply need now is our imagination. Thanks Web PC’s!
The idea that students can have the same "virtual experience" anywhere, regardless of the means they used to get online, totally undermines the superexpense of the one-to-one trend in education. It's completely true that students need nothing more than a network to access their education! With "software as a service" and Web 2.0 resources at our fingertips, the computer becomes nothing more than just another portal to the real learning.
I love the idea of students being able to utilize any computer that has access to the internet to work on assignments. Before the technology training I received this summer, I never knew anything like this existed. I am so amazed by technological advances. I believe students are going to be motivated to learn using this type of technology. Students will not have to worry about checking out a book, or losing their papers. Everything will be floating in the "internet space". I look at implementing this type of teaching/learning as exciting and something we can all benefit from. If everyone would introduce students to this type of learning, I believe we would be the educational leaders of the twenty-first century!
I am thrilled about the possibilities this presents our students. This should be of great benefit to everyone, particularly the kids who may not have a computer at home, because now they can access their work from the library or a friend's house. I think this will be encouraging to our economically disadvantaged kids in particular, because they won't feel that their use of technology is limited to "school". It's exciting to share these new concepts with our kids and I think they will be excited too.