Comments on: How to go 1:1 http://www.thethinkingstick.com/how-to-go-11 Jeff Utecht - Bangkok, Thailand Mon, 15 Mar 2010 18:31:02 +0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Chris Smith http://www.thethinkingstick.com/how-to-go-11/comment-page-1#comment-18717 Chris Smith Sun, 18 Feb 2007 16:35:15 +0000 http://www.thethinkingstick.com/?p=431#comment-18717 I recently did a Podcast with Paul White .. the Technology Director at New International School in Thailand (in fact Bangkok) Paul has been in the school for nearly three years now and the school is well into its 1-to-1 tablet programme with wireless data projectors in all classrooms .... I ended up splitting our conversation into 2 Podcasts ... the second is purely about the 1-to-1 scheme. You can find the Podcast(s) at www.shambles.net/podcasting Hope you find them interesting and helpful .... I did. Chris www.shambles.net I recently did a Podcast with Paul White .. the Technology Director at New International School in Thailand (in fact Bangkok)
Paul has been in the school for nearly three years now and the school is well into its 1-to-1 tablet programme with wireless data projectors in all classrooms ….
I ended up splitting our conversation into 2 Podcasts … the second is purely about the 1-to-1 scheme.
You can find the Podcast(s) at http://www.shambles.net/podcasting
Hope you find them interesting and helpful …. I did.
Chris
http://www.shambles.net

]]> By: Kristin Hokanson http://www.thethinkingstick.com/how-to-go-11/comment-page-1#comment-18650 Kristin Hokanson Sat, 17 Feb 2007 21:19:56 +0000 http://www.thethinkingstick.com/?p=431#comment-18650 Jeff-- I am involved in the state of Pennyslvania's Classrooms for the Future high school reform initiative. We are in year 1 of a 3 year grant and are struggling with some of the same questions. The decision was made prior to the grant being funded, to create 10 model classrooms as well as additional mobile carts--then we received grant funds which allowed us to get additional computers. The teachers who have the model classrooms are struggling with the fact that their kids don't have 24/7 use of computers. They have such great ideas and are growing in leaps and bounds....there is no turning back for them. They are doing amazing things to develop thoughtful learners. That being said, there is becoming a HUGE gap between the teachers that have had use of the 21st Century tools and those that have not--they are developing lessons to build 21st Century skills, while many of the other teachers are doing the same old thing....That's not to say that there aren't a ton of teachers that are banging down the principals door to become the next wave...and feeling the frustration of not having the tools available. I have also seen the struggle between the haves and the have nots--how do you justify what teachers make up the 40%. If you have the opportunity (and the support--WOW 3 folks to do PD) I say begin to develop that atmosphere with your teachers...and grow from there. Jeff–
I am involved in the state of Pennyslvania’s Classrooms for the Future high school reform initiative. We are in year 1 of a 3 year grant and are struggling with some of the same questions. The decision was made prior to the grant being funded, to create 10 model classrooms as well as additional mobile carts–then we received grant funds which allowed us to get additional computers. The teachers who have the model classrooms are struggling with the fact that their kids don’t have 24/7 use of computers. They have such great ideas and are growing in leaps and bounds….there is no turning back for them. They are doing amazing things to develop thoughtful learners. That being said, there is becoming a HUGE gap between the teachers that have had use of the 21st Century tools and those that have not–they are developing lessons to build 21st Century skills, while many of the other teachers are doing the same old thing….That’s not to say that there aren’t a ton of teachers that are banging down the principals door to become the next wave…and feeling the frustration of not having the tools available. I have also seen the struggle between the haves and the have nots–how do you justify what teachers make up the 40%. If you have the opportunity (and the support–WOW 3 folks to do PD) I say begin to develop that atmosphere with your teachers…and grow from there.

]]> By: Dennis Harter http://www.thethinkingstick.com/how-to-go-11/comment-page-1#comment-18560 Dennis Harter Fri, 16 Feb 2007 08:43:23 +0000 http://www.thethinkingstick.com/?p=431#comment-18560 Jeff, I agree with Justin, you should come down and see us. I am sure that SAS doesn't think you are spending enough of their money yet! Really, at our school, we have laptops in every teacher's hands and smartboards in every teachers rooms (with only a few exceptions) and you would find that time here instructive if only as an opportunity to talk with teachers about how their students' learning has been transformed. And I say students' learning, rather than teachers' teaching, purposefully. Because this is the part that concerns me about the comments pushing the tablets...to say that the wireless projector and the tablet replace the smartboard is to ignore completely the STUDENT use of the board and the student interaction with the computer environment. One model would be to supply the students with tablets as well, but now not only are you no longer cost effective, but you are forcing the digital-immigrant need to "write" into the computer, onto our digital-native student who does not need this. We aren't there yet, but we're getting there. You really need to come down to Bangkok. Jeff, I agree with Justin, you should come down and see us. I am sure that SAS doesn’t think you are spending enough of their money yet!

Really, at our school, we have laptops in every teacher’s hands and smartboards in every teachers rooms (with only a few exceptions) and you would find that time here instructive if only as an opportunity to talk with teachers about how their students’ learning has been transformed. And I say students’ learning, rather than teachers’ teaching, purposefully. Because this is the part that concerns me about the comments pushing the tablets…to say that the wireless projector and the tablet replace the smartboard is to ignore completely the STUDENT use of the board and the student interaction with the computer environment.

One model would be to supply the students with tablets as well, but now not only are you no longer cost effective, but you are forcing the digital-immigrant need to “write” into the computer, onto our digital-native student who does not need this.

We aren’t there yet, but we’re getting there. You really need to come down to Bangkok.

]]> By: Julie Lindsay http://www.thethinkingstick.com/how-to-go-11/comment-page-1#comment-18556 Julie Lindsay Fri, 16 Feb 2007 08:02:05 +0000 http://www.thethinkingstick.com/?p=431#comment-18556 Jeff, I have posted some comments on my blog at http://123elearning.blogspot.com/2007/02/going-11-international-school.html It is great you have started this conversation! Julie Jeff, I have posted some comments on my blog at http://123elearning.blogspot.com/2007/02/going-11-international-school.html

It is great you have started this conversation!

Julie

]]> By: Day four with Warlick at The Thinking Stick http://www.thethinkingstick.com/how-to-go-11/comment-page-1#comment-18537 Day four with Warlick at The Thinking Stick Fri, 16 Feb 2007 03:13:03 +0000 http://www.thethinkingstick.com/?p=431#comment-18537 [...] All of this is coming together this week….as an educational technologist you have to love it. This is what we discuss, creating change, moving forward, and truly looking at the way we teach. It’s kind of cool to look back at all the steps that have led us to this week. I thank YOU the collective readers of this blog. Most of these steps have been written about here, and your feedback has helped and continues to do so. My administration at this moment is looking at how we want to move to a 1:1 program in the next two years and is monitoring yesterday’s post I made and the comments that you are leaving. What’s really interesting is when we’re sitting in a meeting and either I or an administrator says “I’ll put that on the blog and see what the blogosphere has to say.” That’s the power of connections, the power of Personal Learning Networks, the power of the collective. [...] [...] All of this is coming together this week….as an educational technologist you have to love it. This is what we discuss, creating change, moving forward, and truly looking at the way we teach. It’s kind of cool to look back at all the steps that have led us to this week. I thank YOU the collective readers of this blog. Most of these steps have been written about here, and your feedback has helped and continues to do so. My administration at this moment is looking at how we want to move to a 1:1 program in the next two years and is monitoring yesterday’s post I made and the comments that you are leaving. What’s really interesting is when we’re sitting in a meeting and either I or an administrator says “I’ll put that on the blog and see what the blogosphere has to say.” That’s the power of connections, the power of Personal Learning Networks, the power of the collective. [...]

]]> By: Will Richardson http://www.thethinkingstick.com/how-to-go-11/comment-page-1#comment-18511 Will Richardson Thu, 15 Feb 2007 18:21:05 +0000 http://www.thethinkingstick.com/?p=431#comment-18511 Hey...just fwiw, before I left my school we piloted a classroom model where the teacher had a tablet pc, a ceiling mounted projector, wireless connection between the two, and wireless connection to the Internet. We set up 33 teachers the first year to work out the kinks, think about the pedagogies, etc. Then, those teachers did all of the pd for the rest of the staff, about 225 teachers. Let me just say this. 90 percent of the people involved found that model to be transformative to their teaching. We wrote a white paper on it for Dell at http://weblogg-ed.com/2006/testing-the-publish-to-blog-feature-at-thinkfreecom/ Will Hey…just fwiw, before I left my school we piloted a classroom model where the teacher had a tablet pc, a ceiling mounted projector, wireless connection between the two, and wireless connection to the Internet. We set up 33 teachers the first year to work out the kinks, think about the pedagogies, etc. Then, those teachers did all of the pd for the rest of the staff, about 225 teachers. Let me just say this. 90 percent of the people involved found that model to be transformative to their teaching. We wrote a white paper on it for Dell at http://weblogg-ed.com/2006/testing-the-publish-to-blog-feature-at-thinkfreecom/

Will

]]> By: John Witter http://www.thethinkingstick.com/how-to-go-11/comment-page-1#comment-18504 John Witter Thu, 15 Feb 2007 14:55:36 +0000 http://www.thethinkingstick.com/?p=431#comment-18504 I have been teaching in a 1:1 district for 5 years. Option 1 is the way to go. The most critical factor in a successful 1:1 environment is still the teacher and your teachers, like your students need opportunity to grow into the technology. Many of our strongest and creative teachers were luddites early on. You will be denying your students some of their strongest advocates if you don't give all your teachers the opportunity to participate in the change. I have been teaching in a 1:1 district for 5 years. Option 1 is the way to go. The most critical factor in a successful 1:1 environment is still the teacher and your teachers, like your students need opportunity to grow into the technology. Many of our strongest and creative teachers were luddites early on. You will be denying your students some of their strongest advocates if you don’t give all your teachers the opportunity to participate in the change.

]]> By: Pat Aroune http://www.thethinkingstick.com/how-to-go-11/comment-page-1#comment-18501 Pat Aroune Thu, 15 Feb 2007 13:51:38 +0000 http://www.thethinkingstick.com/?p=431#comment-18501 If I am not mistaken, the question really is an allocation of resources. This is not whether or not there will be a cultural shift within the buidling. You are determining whether to give everyone the technology, or create a select group of teachers. My thoughts are simple. If everyone has a laptop, and there is a 3:1 teacher - LCD projector ratio, then it is apparent that students throughout the building, will be exposed to web-based technologies within their classrooms. Sure, student exposure will not be even, and the learning curve amongst the staff will vary tremendously. However, to wait until the teachers are trained, or to focus your resources on a select number of rooms or teachers, does not help the students attending classes today. Unless your entire district is funded with the technology described in option two, your district may achieve its educational goal more easily with option 1. Also, putting laptops, or tablets in the hands of teachers, and giving the a reasonable accessibility to LCD projectors, will create onwership, and we all know how important ownership is to the cycle of change. If I am not mistaken, the question really is an allocation of resources. This is not whether or not there will be a cultural shift within the buidling. You are determining whether to give everyone the technology, or create a select group of teachers.

My thoughts are simple. If everyone has a laptop, and there is a 3:1 teacher – LCD projector ratio, then it is apparent that students throughout the building, will be exposed to web-based technologies within their classrooms. Sure, student exposure will not be even, and the learning curve amongst the staff will vary tremendously. However, to wait until the teachers are trained, or to focus your resources on a select number of rooms or teachers, does not help the students attending classes today. Unless your entire district is funded with the technology described in option two, your district may achieve its educational goal more easily with option 1. Also, putting laptops, or tablets in the hands of teachers, and giving the a reasonable accessibility to LCD projectors, will create onwership, and we all know how important ownership is to the cycle of change.

]]> By: Cody Howit http://www.thethinkingstick.com/how-to-go-11/comment-page-1#comment-18487 Cody Howit Thu, 15 Feb 2007 11:22:16 +0000 http://www.thethinkingstick.com/?p=431#comment-18487 Hi Jeff: Interesting debate. As a person with a vested interest in this, it is hard to look at is objectively. The point was raised that change (and that's what it really is for us) needs to be inviting and those who are keen will follow through with it. But what about those who are somewhat...resistant? Are they overlooked until it is said they must get on board? If so then your position as a technology intergration person is more difficult becasue no only do you have to help them teach the kids the technology (can I say that when the kids are more advanced in a lot of ways?) but also teach the teacher which in some cases may limit the amount of true integration that happens. I have been luck enough to work with you and you have given us hours to help us start realizing what we can do...and we are eager, but what about those not as keen. I think they need that extra time to learn the tools available to them before they are using them in the class. Hi Jeff:

Interesting debate. As a person with a vested interest in this, it is hard to look at is objectively. The point was raised that change (and that’s what it really is for us) needs to be inviting and those who are keen will follow through with it. But what about those who are somewhat…resistant? Are they overlooked until it is said they must get on board? If so then your position as a technology intergration person is more difficult becasue no only do you have to help them teach the kids the technology (can I say that when the kids are more advanced in a lot of ways?) but also teach the teacher which in some cases may limit the amount of true integration that happens. I have been luck enough to work with you and you have given us hours to help us start realizing what we can do…and we are eager, but what about those not as keen. I think they need that extra time to learn the tools available to them before they are using them in the class.

]]> By: Blair Cook http://www.thethinkingstick.com/how-to-go-11/comment-page-1#comment-18472 Blair Cook Thu, 15 Feb 2007 05:03:34 +0000 http://www.thethinkingstick.com/?p=431#comment-18472 Jeff, Great blog BTW, it's been interesting to follow Warlick's visit. Having planned and currently in a 1:1 Tablet PC program, and seeing that your goal is for 2008-09, I'd have to say definitely go with option 1. You need to change the culture of your school to be technology-driven, and you need to get your teachers comfortable with the machines long before the students have them. You also need to give your school time to rework the curriculum to incorporate these new classrooms tools. If this is really what your admin wants to do with the school, then your school is changing in a big way and the writing is on the wall that this is the direction the school is now going. That right there is your motivation for teachers to get on board. My 2cents would be to go Tablets rather than normal laptops, because they offer so much more in a classroom environment. Plus a tablet and a wireless projector make a SmartBoard obsolete, for less money. If you are interested, Toshiba used our program as an example of 'best practices' in doing this type of thing and created a couple of videos. You can find links to them on our web site or on Toshiba's education pages (we're Brophy). We gave our teachers tablets a year before the freshman class had them. We also did a pilot program with one class of students and gave them tablets for a year. We learned SO MUCH from that pilot - what worked, what didn't, how to get everything working right, etc. - and it was much easier to manage with a small group. We also rewrote much of our freshman curriculum to incorporate the tablets into the daily classroom activities, and went searching for the best digital resources to support the new curriculum. Anyway, if this is the new direction for the school then you need all the time you can get to start working towards that culture-shift, because cultures don't change quickly. Jeff,

Great blog BTW, it’s been interesting to follow Warlick’s visit.

Having planned and currently in a 1:1 Tablet PC program, and seeing that your goal is for 2008-09, I’d have to say definitely go with option 1. You need to change the culture of your school to be technology-driven, and you need to get your teachers comfortable with the machines long before the students have them. You also need to give your school time to rework the curriculum to incorporate these new classrooms tools. If this is really what your admin wants to do with the school, then your school is changing in a big way and the writing is on the wall that this is the direction the school is now going. That right there is your motivation for teachers to get on board.

My 2cents would be to go Tablets rather than normal laptops, because they offer so much more in a classroom environment. Plus a tablet and a wireless projector make a SmartBoard obsolete, for less money. If you are interested, Toshiba used our program as an example of ‘best practices’ in doing this type of thing and created a couple of videos. You can find links to them on our web site or on Toshiba’s education pages (we’re Brophy).

We gave our teachers tablets a year before the freshman class had them. We also did a pilot program with one class of students and gave them tablets for a year. We learned SO MUCH from that pilot – what worked, what didn’t, how to get everything working right, etc. – and it was much easier to manage with a small group. We also rewrote much of our freshman curriculum to incorporate the tablets into the daily classroom activities, and went searching for the best digital resources to support the new curriculum.

Anyway, if this is the new direction for the school then you need all the time you can get to start working towards that culture-shift, because cultures don’t change quickly.

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