New collection of research examines 1:1 programs

A computer per student leads to higher performance than traditional classroom settings

First collection of research examines results '1 to 1' educational computing

Chestnut Hill, MA (1/21/2010) – A dozen years into the "1 to 1" computing movement's push to pair every schoolchild and teacher with a laptop, studies show the students in these programs outperformed their peers in traditional classrooms, according to researchers.

Students who have participated in 1:1 computing report higher achievement and increased engagement, according to findings of studies published in a special issue of the Journal of Technology, Learning and Assessment, published by Boston College's Lynch School of Education.

The journal's January 2010 edition represents the first-ever collection of peer-reviewed research articles examining the impacts of providing every teacher and student their own laptop computer in school – typically know as "1:1 computing."

"This new collection of articles brings together some of the best evidence to date on the implementation and impacts of 1:1 computing," said Boston College Assistant Professor of Education Laura M. O'Dwyer, a co-editor of the journal, which is housed jointly in the Technology and Assessment Study Collaborative (inTASC) and the Center for the Study of Testing, Evaluation and Educational Policy (CSTEEP) at Boston College.

The journal includes co-editor and Lynch School researcher Damian Bebell's evaluation of a pilot program in Massachusetts' Berkshire County. Bebell found the Berkshire Wireless Learning Initiative produced improved performance in English and writing, though results for math achievement were flat. Overwhelmingly, the laptops got students excited about school.

Bebell said that across all of the studies contained in the journal, one common link is clear: the value of teachers committed to making 1:1 computing work.

"One of the most salient findings was the critical role that teachers played in the success of each 1:1 program," Bebell said. Additional factors critical to student success across 1:1 technology settings included:

Having a strong commitment from school leadership
Developing consistent and supportive administrative policies
Creating professional development opportunities for teachers, particularly the sharing of best practices
All of the studies that examined the impact of 1:1 computing on student achievement found that students in the 1:1 settings outperformed their traditional classroom peers on English/Language Arts standardized tests by a statistically significant margin. Study authors also reported on evidence of increased student motivation and engagement, as well as changes in teachers' instructional practices.

The most recent edition of the Journal of Technology, Learning and Assessment can be viewed at www.jtla.org.

A survey of states towards 1:1 computing

Welcome Back for the 2009-2010 school year! Let's start the school year with a nice article summarizing recent work by Project Red on state's current progress towards implementing 1:1 programs:

http://www.eschoolnews.com/news/top-news/?i=60444

Eugene (WA) Schools deal with theft of educational technology

Two elementary schools grapple with the loss of $100,000 worth of educational technology. KVAL.org's full story here:

http://www.kval.com/news/local/45361322.html

Greek High School students to recieve 120,000 laptops

A new program will provide 120,000 Greek high school students beginning in Fall 2009. The Information Society Program (financed by the EU) will fund the new program. From the GRReporter:

http://www.grreporter.info/statiaen.php?mysid=2040&t=3&SESID=cvqru76eu4f0t3smgi3nm5fcd6

Texas House approves bill on funds for electronic texts in school

Texas House approves bill that opens up funding for electronic textbook resources in schools.

From the Dallas Morning News:

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/texassouthwest/stories/DN-textbooks_03tex.ART.State.Edition1.4afd165.html

Norway experiments with computer-based student assessments

In an effort to improve student assessment, the Norwegian Ministry of Education is piloting a program whereby students complete a national assessment using specially developed software.

From the BBC:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/8027300.stm

Maine High Schools Surveyed on 1:1 Interest

Maine high schools weigh in on their interest in the state's 1:1 high school plans.

From the Kennebec Journal (ME):

http://kennebecjournal.mainetoday.com/news/local/6206227.html

Anti-theft laptops to be issued to Australia students

As past of Australia's grade 9-12 1:1 laptop program, Lenova, the Chinese laptop supplier, promises to foil would-be thieves with built in security features:


http://www.news.com.au/story/0,27574,25323465-421,00.html

Australia invests in 200,000 Lenova laptops

"NSW students currently in Years 10, 11 and 12 will be given one laptop between two students to use in class, and those computers will be in schools by the year's end. All the laptops will come with Microsoft Office Professional, giving students access to programs such as Word, Excel and PowerPoint."

From the Australian:
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25274027-5013404,00.html

Rwanda: Laptops Will Increase Quality of Education

"The State Minister in charge of Primary and Secondary Education has said that the use of computers by students will help increase the quality of education in Rwanda."

From the New Times:
http://allafrica.com/stories/200904010021.html