One-to-One Computing

One-to-one computing is when a computer is available for each student and teacher in a classroom. So, the school can start a program where every student is supplied with a laptop during the class time to assist in their research and other studies/projects during the school day.
At the placement that I’m at for my TE 401/402 classes, my collaborating teacher is able to gain access to laptops for every student in the fifth grade class. She doesn’t use them very often, but when she does it’s hard to control whether or not the students are on task. That would be my fear and one of the cons to using one-to-one computing in the classroom. You can’t always watch every student and what they are doing, so it will be difficult to make sure that they are on task.
As far as cons go, the problem with one-to-one computing programs is that you can’t always get the money to do a program like it. Some schools/districts can’t afford to implement a program like it. Another con with the one-to-one computing program is that teachers may be given the materials to do this, but they don’t have any ideas how to. There isn’t anything told to them on how to use the one-to-one computing program. Also, it’s completely up to the teacher to introduce and allow for the technologies use in the classroom and if they aren’t used to it themselves than they wouldn’t want to introduce it to their students. Some teachers are already set in their ways of teaching certain things, so bringing in technology is a new thing they aren’t ready for.
The pros of one-to-one computing programs are that it can be used in many ways. There is so much to access on computers that you can use technology with every subject taught. Letting the students do research on the internet for papers or projects, creating PowerPoint’s or other digital presentations, or even just having them type up their paper rather than write it out allows them to embrace the technology that they often see at home and everywhere else in their society. Also, there are often fun games online that are educational and students can play those to learn. Some students may not have access to computers or if they do they may not know all that they can do with a computer, so it’s good to introduce the computer and all that it can do to the students. They can collaborate without necessarily sitting next to each other or their other group members.
I think that one-to-one computing programs would be great if the school is able to afford providing computers for all the students. It’s a great advantage to students if it can be implemented right.