Why One-to-One?

Keith Boniface, MS Principal

A buzz phrase among educational IT enthusiasts is the ubiquitous term “one-to-one.” It refers to the idea that there should be a one-to-one ratio of computing devices to students in a school. Note the use of the word device – we are no longer referring to just computers, we want to include things such as tablets (e.g. iPads) in our equation as well. When you talk with these IT folks, it seems that they live and breathe their mantra - “The geeks shall inherit the earth” and the rest of us are meant to get swept up in their enthusiasm. But before jumping in, we need to ask ourselves if this enthusiasm is well deserved.

Last week I sat at a meeting with administrators where we discussed the more important question of “Why one-to-one?” Why do we want our students armed with these cold, expensive and impersonal devices which seem to encourage plagiarism; and allow far too much screen time, scattered thinking and violent interactive gaming? The advantages had better be clearly spelled out if they are going to outweigh the downsides. I have attempted to do just that in the following list.

The advantages of one-to-one computing are:

1. Access to information well beyond the physical school walls: This includes primary source materials, real-time data and archival information that were previously untouchable in a school setting.

2. A practice tool for skills-based lessons which require constant repetition for reinforcement: You see this used most deftly in mathematics classes where a student can be drilled on multiplication facts and receive instant non-judgmental feedback. Learning another language or the geographic location of countries are two other examples where computers aid learning.

3. Ease of editing in writing: A drafted piece of writing is easily manipulated on a computer. Spell-checkers can check spelling, synonyms can be suggested and definitions can be verified instantly.

4. Creativity and understanding are fostered: Through the use of software and Web 2.0 tools, students can present information in ways they have never dreamed of before. Podcasts, videos, blogs and even the dreaded PowerPoints force students to evaluate and integrate information and aid them in presentations and productions.

5. Communication is enhanced: Students can work collaboratively on a document, even without being in the same room at the same time. Also, because penmanship is no longer an issue, a teacher will be able to read every student’s work easily – a further enhancement of communication.

6. Development of IT skills which will be used in future learning: There is no doubt that this technology is not going away; it is only going further. Students who do not become adept will find themselves behind in skills that future employers are looking for.

There you have it. These are six powerful reasons for promoting a one-to-one ratio at any school. Teachers would probably add a dozen or two more reasons, but these six are hard to argue with. There is, no doubt, a list of disadvantages that need to be considered and managed, but in the end, the advantages of one-to-one should convince us, parents and educators alike, of its value.

At the meeting, the answer to “why one-to-one?” became more obvious. I would argue that we can’t afford not to be one-to-one, any more than we discuss giving up our one-to-one ratio with pencils or calculators. The Administration of the school then began to look at a long-term plan where the right technology would be available for every student on a daily basis.

Hopefully, the geeks won’t inherit the earth, but they have a valid educational point with this idea.