Derek Wenmoth asked this week 1:1 Computing, does it work?
In his blog post he says “On the one hand I can see significant benefits in each student having their own computer….. On the other hand my observations are that the full benefit.. is seldom fully realised because there is little or no change in the basic pedagogy.” The links he has to reports on the topic in his post are worth considering.
It is really important with Australia’s DER rollout that teachers get well beyond using computers as an expensive pencil. Some will use it as a more up to date textbook and that is OK so long as it is the basis for the creation of knowledge and students get to use them in creative ways. By that I don’t mean creativity as in artistic, but creative in the sense of collaboration, shared knowledge, shared understandings, and the creation of new content.
Derek is right, if you use the same pedagogy, and just try to give it a digital transplant, then you will not be exploiting the capability of all the new tools. There will be times when students work on their own, in the 1:1 sense, and it is probably important that at that point a computer is available for them to use individually. But at times they will work in pairs, in groups, sharing knowledge and understanding, and solving problems.
I wonder how many Australian secondary schools have reached the stage of re-designing rooms. The standard computer lab with it’s emphasis on rows of computers won’t work either, nor will an atmosphere of silence.
How far are you prepared to go?
More importantly what thought have you given to it either pedagogy or physical surroundings?
3 Comments
These are some of the questions and concerns our Just in Time Learning Team discussed last year. As you say, it is a major pragmatic redesign issue as well as the obvious pedagogical shift.
Our school ICT plan 2009-2011 addresses it to some degree as does our north coast regional Connected Schools plan, BUT we are still concerned about the potential for improper implementation. Are schools and teachers ready?
The NSW DET laptop tender closes soon in January and the resulting devices will be thrust upon schools. ready or not, political expediency will ensure that. This is a major issue schools involved will have to address, urgently. Great post.
A great resource that I have found for getting an idea of different strategies for teaching with technology is Educause’s 7 Things You Should Know Series http://connect.educause.edu/tag/7+Things+You+Should+Know/5373?time=1232395844
This series provides great information about getting started with emerging learning technologies. If teachers are going to have access to the technology, this resource can help them see how to use it educationally.
As I sat through our staff development day I kept thinking “when are they going to mention the laptop roll-out?” It was touched on, but nothing substantial. I don’t think they (the executive) have really considered the massive classroom management impact, let alone pedagogy implications. Sure, individual teachers can give it some thought, but this sort of roll-out needs a whole school approach.
Maybe, though, schools are taking the lead from government themselves. It was obvious the Federal Government didn’t think about the full requirements of such a rollout. Neither, it seems, has the NSW DET.
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[…] unknown wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptIt is really important with Australia’s DER rollout that teachers get well beyond using computers as an expensive pencil. Some will use it as a more up to date textbook and that is OK so long as it is basis for the creation of knowledge … […]
[…] Have Australian schools had to alter the layout of their classrooms to accommodate the DER? This was a topic I touched on in 1:1 Computers. What will you do? The main thrust of that blog post was to talk about the need for pedagogical change but I also referred to the need to rethink physical spaces. […]
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