Question: Are 1-to-1 Devices Helpful, a Hindrance, or Somewhere in the Middle?
Click here to share your thoughts on 1:1 classroom devices. Where do you land on this issue?
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Like many initiatives in education, the prospect of introducing one-to-one devices into K–12 classrooms had educators feeling split from the beginning. We‘d like to know where you stand now, so tell us: Is one-to-one helpful, a hindrance, or a mix of the two?
Early on, many educators were excited by the potential for technology to bolster their teaching practice and amplify students’ academic experiences: the promise of personalized learning, bridging the digital divide, and access to broader resources and perspectives. Others expressed concerns about implementation challenges and ever-present screens diverting student attention. Back in 2010, X user @seanbanville wrote, “Big danger is students chatting, surfing, gaming, etc., instead of studying.”
In today’s schools, you’d be hard-pressed to find many classrooms without devices in them. But laptops, tablets, and Chromebooks are increasingly cited as sources of distraction in some classrooms—encroaching on precious instructional time.
- Some are taking a stand, shelving the tech entirely. Devices “eat up so much class time, with kids having internet issues, needing to charge their Chromebook and having to look for their charger,” writes X user @MelAnnGro. “I had my kids do their warm-up and exit questions on paper today. It was much more efficient.”
- Others are optimistic and fully embracing technology, seeing the kinds of benefits that have them convinced there’s no turning back now. “1:1 has opened up a whole new landscape of experiences for us,” writes educator Kirk McCullough. “Virtual tours, collaborative exploration, student voice and choice. I wish I had this when I was a student! Learning is better and more fun than ever!”
What’s been your experience with these devices? Let us know whether one-to-one is helpful, a hindrance, or somewhere in the middle. Share in the comments.
More on 1-to-1 Devices
Are you looking for resources? Check out our Technology Integration and Blended Learning pages. In addition, you may be interested in the following:
At Edutopia, we’re looking for educators to share their strategies. If you have ideas that go beyond what can be shared in the comments, visit our Write for Us page.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us. If you have questions of your own, feel free to post them here—our community facilitators are ready to help!