Readings and Research

A selection of research papers and readings that may be useful for staff professional learning activities.

Outlined below are summaries of a few of the attached documents.

A Complete Guide to One-to-One Computingin the K-12 Environment

This guide has been developed to help educators think their way through one-to-one computing initiatives. It is organized as a collection of materials more than just an essay. Each section summarizes what we have learned about the challenge of developing, implementing and sustaining one-to-one programs; provides exhibits with information straight from the experts; and offers resources for deeper inquiry. It doesn’t have all the answers, but it does offer a big picture and direction on where to learn more.

The Horizon Report 2008 Edition

The main sections of the report describe six emerging technologies or practices that will likely enter mainstream use in learning-focused organizations within three adoption horizons over the next one to five years. Also highlighted are a set of challenges and trends that will influence our choices in the same time frames. The project draws on an ongoing primary research effort that has distilled the viewpoints of more than 175 Advisory Board members in the fields of business, industry, and education into the six topics presented here; drawn on an extensive array of published resources, current research, and practice; and made extensive use of the expertise of the NMC and ELI communities. (The precise research methodology is detailed in the final section.) Many of the examples under each area feature the innovative work of NMC and ELI member institutions.

Five Years 30,000 Laptops - Henrico County

"Insights from a Pioneering Leader of One-to-One Mobile Computing

Henrico County Public Schools was one of the first and largest districts to issue a laptop computer to each middle and high school student, teacher, and administrator. They managed the feat while spending approximately $1,700 lesser pupil than the state average. See how they did it, how teaching and learning have changed, and why they never want to go back.

As a result of the initiative, teaching has become more active and individualized. Students are better organized and more engaged in their learning. They graduate better prepared to become 21^st century citizens and critical thinkers. “You can’t think critically if all you do is take in information from a textbook,” says Aaron Spence, Ph.D., Principal of Deep Run High School. “But if you can interact with the world through a computer and do things you could not have done sitting in the classroom, that’s a really powerful way to help students learn. And that’s the bottom line. It’s all about learning.”

Success hasn’t always come easy. It required extensive planning—and adjusting when reality didn’t match the plan. It demanded leadership at all levels and risk taking by teachers who had to become learners. It rested on a shared belief expressed by individuals across the district: this is the right thing for our students.

In this white paper, Henrico County Public Schools shares key learnings from !ve years of one-to-one computing experience, with a focus on the high school level. This paper follows the framework outlined by Blueprint Solutions for K-12 One-to-One Computing Initiatives, which identifies six essential components of successful one-to-one computing: leadership, funding, infrastructure, professional development, curriculum, and results."

America's Digital Schools 2008

The Six Trends to Watch