Educational Initiatives

When looking at various educational initiatives the most commonly adopted is the 1:1.  Within this movement, one-to-one computing is adopted within the school, if not across the entire district.  This requires a significant financial investment by the school district and for most public schools, is slowly implemented over time.  Private schools sometimes have access to endowments that enable an early adoption, allowing all students and teachers to receive devices simultaneously.  1:1 not only refers to computers but tablets, and mobile devices as well.

Key components of a 1:1 educational Initiative: 

• wireless; 
• accessible to the Internet and at least one local school network; 
• equipped with software and support for classroom instruction, homework, tests, feedback, presentations, social networking, and productivity applications (e.g., word processing and spreadsheets); 
• available for use 24 hours a day, 7 days a week; and 
• compatible with digital tools and resources such as online courses, interactive whiteboards, and probes for data collection and science experiments.

When looking at two different approaches to the the 1:1 initiative I chose to compare a public high school with a private.  I was interested to see if resources altered their approach or rational for adopting new technological initiatives.

Wheaton Academy is a private non-denominatinal christian high school located outside Chicago IL.  Tuition is just under $15,000 per year, and does not include room and board.  Wheaton cites a desire to equipped students "to engage the 21st century world."  These principles guide how Wheaton implements their 1:1 policy: the ability to use technology productively and to achieve goals, without fear, to connect with others, to deepen thinking, develop "informal literacy," gain understanding of global issues, and to develop discipline in order to use technology without distraction.  The school then goes on to discuss the benefits to both teachers and parents.  Wheaton has created a very comprehensive analysis as to why and how their school community will benefit from the 1:1 initiative.  Each students at Wheaton will receive a Chromebook and have access to a tablet.  It is evident that a great deal of time and resources has been spent exploring the Wheaton Academy 1:1 Technology Initiative.

This is a link to a study they piloted prior to implementing the 1:1 program.  Within this study they detail their rational, as well as how they studied other local schools Bring Your Own Device policies and ultimately their decision to move to 1:1.
GBN Learning Pilot Report 2013

Waltham Public School, is a K-12 school located just outside Boston, MA.  This public school's 1:1 initiative details a district wide plan for implementation.  Within their report they highlight the school districts goals and the plans for professional development.  They see the impact of a 1:1 learning initiative as providing students with the 21st-century skills listed below:

• Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving 
• Innovation and Creativity 
• Inquiry 
• Communication 
• Collaboration 
• Information and Media Literacy 
• Technology Skills 
• Self-Directed Learning 
• Global Awareness

The report goes on to further identify the districts 1:1 learning goals.  These are:

• To increase student engagement and productivity through personalized learning and equal access to technology 
• To extend and expand learning beyond the school day—anytime, anywhere learning 
• To provide authentic and relevant learning experiences 
• To increase student achievement and academic rigor 
• To promote inclusion by providing opportunities that level the playing field for children with disabilities in general education classrooms 
• To increase 21st century skill development in collaboration, communication, creativity, critical thinking and problem solving, digital literacy, and global awareness

Throughout this report it is very clear, that this is the school districts opportunity to rationalize and justify to taxpayers the expense of the 1:1 initiative.  The report is comprehensible and provides a great deal of evidence supporting the expenditure.  It goes on to highlight that the tablet was selected as the best choice to fit the district's needs.  The various phases and costs are highlighted, as well as the assessment method for determining success.  Waltham Public Schools 1:1 Learning Initiative 

Some critics of the one-to-one movement in education question the cost-benift ratio.  This journal article presents examples of schools struggling with 1:1 initiatives and 6 key components necessary for schools to succeed with their new educational tools.
The Journal of Technology, Learning, and Assessment