One to One Classrooms

I thoroughly enjoyed watching the One to One Teaching and Learning video taken of Denali Borough School District. The classrooms seemed to be a more relaxed environment for the students and teachers, as opposed to everyone seated in rows at desks. The teachers appeared to be satisfied with the program as a whole and they transitioned well from primarily teaching with textbooks to incorporating laptops. While teachers were being interviewed during class, I was impressed how well the classrooms of students continued to work even though the teacher was no longer teaching, especially in the room where the iphoto was being used. Teachers seem to be incorporating many of the programs and software available into their lesson plans in addition to using the web as a resource. Overall the teachers sounded pleased that the one to one program has been a success.

Students had positive feedback when interviewed in the video about the use of laptops in school. They liked the fact that they could have their work at their fingertips wherever they went, whether at school or at home. One student described how she loved the program especially since she had just moved to this school and her other school did not use laptops. Another student explained how he is a senior and has taken classes to become a certified apple technician to work on the laptops for the school. He appreciated this training and the ability to learn this skill, which will benefit him greatly in the future. Through this video, I saw fantastic opportunities for students to learn about technology, apply it to their everyday education, and become comfortable in using it.

One concern I had about the one to one program was not being knowledgeable enough about technology and the use and care of the laptops in the classrooms. This concern was addressed in the video by the teachers stating they had training prior to the program beginning. They also had technicians available at the school to help with any problems the laptops might have. Another concern is that the students might take advantage of having the laptops in class and use them in ways not appropriate during class. The teachers addressed this concern by giving specific tasks to the students, asking them to close laptops when not needed for learning and by walking around the room to view students working.

One of my hopes for the one to one program is that I would become better educated and more comfortable using the technology and the laptops as a teacher to then better educate the students. Throughout the video teachers stated that they have learned so much from using the laptops themselves. One teacher stated it was an adjustment at first to transition from textbook teaching, but now she loves teaching in a one to one classroom. She can use the web as a teaching tool to better serve her as a teacher and to better serve her students in learning. Another one of my hopes is that students would all become technologically savvy and not struggle as I do. All the students in the video appeared to love using their laptop and the technology that comes with it. I think it is fabulous they are learning these skills at a young age and will feel confident about their abilities. They are privileged to have this opportunity and will be ahead of others when going on to college or into the workplace.

My first instinct when I think of teaching in a one to one classroom is fear. I feel this way because I still feel ill prepared when it comes to using my new mac laptop and the technology available. One of the reasons I enrolled in this class is to become more comfortable and confident in using technology. I know it takes time, practice and knowledge to become more tech savvy. I am up for the challenge and I hope I leave this class more prepared to teach in a one to one classroom someday. The one to one program is fantastic and I hope it is instituted in Fairbanks schools in the future.