“Seeing No Progress, Some Schools Drop Laptops” - New York Times - May 4th, 2007

“After seven years, there was literally no evidence it had any impact on student achievement — none,” said Mark Lawson, the school board president here in Liverpool, one of the first districts in New York State to experiment with putting technology directly into students’ hands. “The teachers were telling us when there’s a one-to-one relationship between the student and the laptop, the box gets in the way. It’s a distraction to the educational process.”

When I read statements like this it saddens me and maddens me at the same time.

It saddens me to watch thousands of hard earned tax dollars be wasted because of poor implementation and support. You don’t read about businesses considering abandoning their lap top programs due to employee computer distractions or losses in productivity. How are schools to remain relevant to today’s students if they cannot structure and provide an environment that can enable them to succeed?

In one to one lap top classrooms everything looks different.
Classroom management looks different.

Supervision looks different.

Assessment looks different.

Collaboration looks different.

Teaching looks different.

Scaffolding looks different.

Lesson plans look different.

Learning looks different.

Teaching looks different.

TEACHING LOOKS DIFFERENT!!!

After reading this article, my first questions were:

How much PD was done on: “Teaching in a one to one program”, “Classroom management in a one to one program”, “Student user policies in a one to one program” , “How to monitor and track teacher AND student learning in a one to one program”.

You won’t find books on these subjects (idea??) but if you leverage the experience of all of us who are working and teaching in these environments and having success with them you will find a wealth of knowledge, just waiting to be tapped. Reach out and mobilize your resources! Is that not one of the new skills of the 21st century?

I have seen and have been a part of programs that work. There are so many examples out there where one to one programs succeed in engaging our 21st century learners while still ensuring they they are learing. But it takes an investment in PEOPLE and not technology to make these programs successful. Small steps, instructional shifts, changes in thinking, changes in practices and changes in TEACHING.

Changes in Teaching,……………..

Love this article:

“Computers’ role in classrooms questioned”
- The Daily Princetonian
- Tuesday, February 13, 2007

It seems that even the mighty institution of Princeton is being forced to wake up and smell the change. As laptops invade the classroom of our universities and professors refine their powerpoint skills to digitize their entire courses problems are emerging.

Professors are boring their students with mind numbing stacks of slides and students are paying more attention to their screens than to their professors.

Nevertheless, the University recognizes the benefits of laptop access in lecture accompanying its various distractions. Leydon noted that laptops cannot be outlawed from the classroom but must be regulated in some way. “Students learn in many different ways, and we must learn to accommodate that,” she said. “We are certainly not, at this point, looking at a ban on laptop use.”

Wait a second!

Does this mean that pedagody and intructional stretegy is not the sole concern of K - 12 education?

Yikes! What has the world come to.

Of couse university students are responsible for their own learning but why should we not hear university professors uttering the following phrases.

“For those of you with laptops, lower your lids for a moment, this is an important point!”

“Turn to your neighbour for a moment and comment on the following……….”

“Stop typing for a moment , lower your lids and imagine…………..”

“Think for a moment about…………., now share your thought with……….”

When did classroom management stop being the concern of professors. I have had my share of awful professors throughout my university and post graduate career. The only instructional strategy ever employed was didactic and that was on the best of days.

So profressors:

There are new tools in the classroom and they can be distracting. Make an effort understand the tool and how it can enhance the learning experience as well as take away from it and you are one more step closer to connecting with your students. Take the class by the horns and direct student attention. That is your job!
Energize, excite and engage your students. They are asking for it!

“PowerPoint slideshows were another concern addressed during the meeting. Though they are the standard format for many Princeton lectures, doubts surfaced yesterday regarding their merit as a method of instruction.

Slideshows posted on Blackboard, suspected to be a widespread excuse for truancy, are PowerPoint’s second pitfall, the panelists said.

Why would you attend class if everything that was said in class was on a powerpoint? If there is no added value with attendance then way attend? Powerpoints have killed the lecture and students are starting to call for more.

Again it all about understanding the TOOL!

Powerpoint can enhance a lecture/class but should NEVER replace it.

It all comes down to good teaching, and when I am paying for it, should I not expect it?

Spread the word and expect more!