One-to-One Computing Tools for Life

There are signs that the technological revolution in education is right around the corner. A small but growing number of schools around the country are discovering that real change in education must be built on one-to-one computing. This means continuous and personal technology access for every student, regardless of socioeconomic background. Student achievement cannot be built on the old-fashioned model of five computers in the back of the classroom or on the computer lab that students visit once a week. Sherilee Walker, former assistant superintendent of Federal Way Washington school district, put it very succinctly: "Until every student has their own computer, education will view technology as an `event,' rather than something fully integrated into the fabric of the schools." One-to-one computing incorporates technology and the Internet into every aspect of the school day. But it does more than that. Properly implemented, it has the power to transform the learning process for all involved. In the pioneering one-to-one computing schools, every student has a laptop that accompanies him or her throughout the school day and home in the evening, with an anytime-anywhere connection to the school network and the Internet. The results are proving to be dramatic. Student achievement is on the rise, attendance is up, and students who have dropped out are back in school. Teachers are becoming facilitators in the learning process. Parents are getting involved in their children's education and going back to school themselves. The Elements of One-to-One Computing One-to-one computing is built on five basic elements. First, if each student is to have a computer, the computer must be portable, durable and wireless. This is not as expensive as it sounds, when the space, power, and wiring costs are factored into the total cost of ownership. The computers must go home every day to make the desired impact on student learning. Second, all computers must function as part of a large, "mission-critical" system to be effective. This broadly covers everything from a wireless LAN infrastructure to the systems software that manages a complex computing environment. Third, students, parents and teachers must receive thorough training, with technical and instructional support onsite to ensure a smooth transition. Experience has shown that training and support must be delivered over a yearlong period to be fully effective. Fourth, the system must be comprehensive; it must integrate an Internet-based curriculum into everyday studies with an emphasis on teacher-driven lessons and student-driven learning. Finally, the system must provide continuous broadband connectivity for every student and teacher, in order to foster the ad hoc use of the Internet and facilitate on-demand learning. Broadband connectivity also provides DSL-like speed to the desktop in support of the next generation of Internet applications. Seeing Results After only one year of implementing one-to-one computing, schools are seeing some dramatic results. For example, Rio Bravo Middle School in El Paso, Texas, one of the poorest cities in the U.S., reports that student scores on the Texas State Achievement Test improved from 83% to 95% in math, and from 87% to 92% in writing over the previous year. They also note an attendance increase to 97%. Redondo Union High School in Redondo Beach, California, reports that 83% of the freshmen passed the high school writing proficiency test, an increase of more than 30% over the previous year. Carmen Arace, an inner-city middle school in Bloomfield, Connecticut, reports that student suspensions dropped from 432 to 85, with tardiness levels dropping almost to zero. Hancock High School, located in a rural area of Southern Mississippi on the Gulf Coast, reports that their school attendance improved by 40% in one year, with educators reporting much higher levels of student motivation. …