One to One

The One to One Initiative has begun!  I have heard many pros and cons to this program.  As times has changed I do feel that the computer is now the equivalent to what was once paper and pencil.  One thing we need to think of is how much of a disadvantage students these days may be without having access to a computer.  Could you imagine what it would have been like going to school without any paper or pencils when that was the only way to record your notes and take tests?  What did you do?  Well lets now think what would students do now when they have assignments that require the use of a computer but lack the access to use a computer.  I mean for one thing computers are not as cheap as paper and pencils and with the changes in times there are now a large amount of single parent homes.  Since not everyone can afford a computer the One to One Initiative is very helpful by providing computers or iPads to students in schools that now are a part of this program.  Now I know that there are other problems other then students not being able to afford computers that make this topic controversial.  For one case I heard how a school using this program had technical issues that kicked students out of their online test taking.  They had been informed if it happened that the questions that had been already answered would have been saved automatically, but that was not the case.  So once students could log back into the test they had to retake everything that they had already answered.   

Ok so we have discussed access and technical difficulties but what about classroom distractions?  I have heard that the software can be altered to only allow access to certain sites that have been approved in advance by the school, but I have also heard that any student with a good working knowledge about computer could maneuver around that setting with ease.  So if your students have the chance to be one of the few lucky ones that have the opportunity to be in this program will they be using their computer for actual classroom work or will they be spending their time working on other things during class. . . I know there is some great software available for use in the classroom especially when dealing with a physics classroom that would make these computers become an outstanding tool, but it all depends on how everything can be implemented.  

I can not truly say that I am for or against this initiative, but all I can hope for is that if it is readily available for students that all of the kinks in the road are worked out for the best outcome!