PROS
One teacher stressed that you do not have to print everything out. How great is that?! I didn’t really think about it before seeing the video but this is a BIG bonus for all three parties; the teacher, the student and Mother Earth. Teachers and students won’t have to worry about lugging a bunch of papers around, or losing them. They won’t have to pay high prices for those precious spiral notebooks. The best part is that this can have a great impact on the environment. When I was working at the school this last Friday I noticed that our schools don’t have one thing that my schools growing up had…recycling bins. I am ecstatic about the reduction of waste.
“The world at your finger tips.” Fast, easy access to information is an obvious plus that many teachers in the video loved. I think that this is great as long as the teachers take the time to educate students on how to find reputable sources.
One door closes, another opens. So bringing in computers will cause some loss of the use of books but think of all of the things you can’t do with books! You can’t create movies, music or slide shows. You can’t write a paper at 60WPM. The possibilities seem endless.
Grading papers has never been quicker or easier!
CONS
As one of the biggest book collectors I know, I am sad to see some of them go. Hey, did anyone notice that the teachers and students still had books in stacks and piles all around them? I sure did. I think that for a one to one program to work, you would have to use a combination of both books and computers, at least for the time being. As one teacher pointed out, the online books that were available for her use did not seem adequate so she stuck with the real thing and used the computer as a supplement.
The video didn’t really address who is held responsible for damage done to computers, which was a major concern of mine. I would like to see a sample of the form that I am sure students have to fill out when assigned a laptop. That would probably answer my question. And having students make the repairs, good idea but I am sure there are some things they can’t fix. I hope that the districts using computers get a discount on extended warranties.
Do you know what is funny? I didn’t even think the other day about having the students close their laptops to get their attention. One of my major concerns was being able to keep track of what students were doing, and how to keep them on task. Assuming that I could remotely look at any individuals screen during class, I think I would comfortable with my ability to manage a classroom full of computers.
Students chatting during class…corporal punishment here I come (joking :)).
MY OPINON
I could honestly make a pro/con list that goes on for pages but if given the opportunity, I would love to work in a one to one classroom. I don’t feel that having the computers would cause a teacher to spend less time teaching. If anything it would help them make more efficient use of their time to teach.
