Journal 8: Choosing the Perfect Tools for One-to-One

Bouterse, Brian; Corn, Jenifer O.; Halstead, Elizabeth 0. (August, 2009) Choosing the Perfect Tools for One-to-One. Learning and Leading with Technology. Retrieved on August 7, 2009 from http://www.iste.org/Content/NavigationMenu/Publications/LL/LLIssues/Volume3720092010/AugustNo1/37115t.pdf

This article explores how teachers and administrators should go about the incorporation of laptop programs in their schools. There are six major considerations that teachers and administrators should think about when considering a one-to-one laptop program. These considerations are the purpose of the technology need, the operating system needed, applications needed, content needs, peripheral device needs, and robustness needs. Other things to think about when considering the implementation of a laptop program is the purchase price of the technology, the support needed to use and maintain this product, the professional development for employees unfamiliar with the new technology, networking and connectivity costs, software needed, replacements costs, and retrofitting costs. All these aspects play into the total cost of ownership (TCO) which is an important piece of implementing a laptop program.

Is implementing one-to-one laptop programs really feasible in public schools?
As of right now I don't think it is economically feasible to have one-to-one laptop programs on a widespread basis. But, the knowledge is there and with time costs will drop. So it is really important to be discussing this issue because as laptop technology become more affordable the importance of integrating them into every classroom will drastically rise.

What does this article tell us about one-to-one laptop program initiatives?
It showed me the complex nature of trying to implement a one-to-one program in a school. Initially I only considered the cost of the actual equipment, but there are so many other facets to creating a one-to-on program in a school. Its not just how much the computers cost, but the cost of maintaining these computer, properly using them, and teaching the teachers how to use the computers and their software, and much more that goes into the creation of a one-to-one laptop program.