I remember when my husband and I brought home our first
child. We had prepared for months…
reading books, building furniture, attending child birth classes, buying
accessories, talking to friends… our entire lives were dedicated to the arrival
of this child (and my husband’s PhD coursework so I guess we weren’t totally
myopic). The day came when she entered
the world and we were sent home by the hospital staff to begin our lives as a
family. We came home, my husband put the
baby (in her car carrier) on the coffee table… and we stared at her…. and we
stared at each other… we stared at the cat… and suddenly all the prep was over
and we asked “So.Now.What.Do.We.Do?”
Brett
Clark wrote a fantastic post about prepping a 1:1 program being like
prepping for the arrival of a child. And
he’s total right. So now that you’ve
gone 1:1… what do you do?
- Hint: If you happen to be in Indianapolis at ICE13 on Friday, October 11th this is our presentation. Join us!
Taking a page from the research of Elizabeth
Heitsch and Robert Holley and their work on the Learning Commons model of
library design, there are three main areas to consider in your "What's Next" reflections: the Physical; the Virtual; and the
Cultural. Let’s try a series of reflections
based on your learning environment … what it is like now and how the
environment changes through the lens of 1:1.
The Physical:
1:1 will dramatically change how you see and use space in
your learning environment. There is new
hardware all over the place needing be connect to a wireless network, print and
create. Also how your learners use the
chairs, desks and floor changes dramatically.
We have learned that the 50’s model of desks in rows doesn’t work so
well in 1:1. Students and teachers need
flexible spaces to fully engage the capacity of collaboration and access these
devices create. And speaking of
creating, students will need creation spaces outside the classroom to continue
their experiences.
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Reflect a moment:
Picture your classroom. See each
student with access to a personal device for learning. What works in the space? What doesn’t? What would help?
The Virtual:
Every time I think this is the obvious consideration BEFORE
going 1:1, I read a post on the State of Indiana Learning Connections that asks
for input in digital curriculum/resources AFTER a school district has gone
1:1. The virtual considerations are more
than just digital textbooks… it’s your school web presence, it’s a learning
management system or content distribution platform. It’s creation tools like Google Apps for
Education or Microsoft SkyDrive. It’s
social media use like Edmodo, My Big Campus or Twitter. It’s apps designed to drive the school
calendar of events and feedback from families.
As the students of LA schools showed us, students know the power of the
device … and they want to harness that power (legitimately or otherwise because
they are very, very smart). These
resources will change (improve) every few months. Be prepared to be flexible
with upgrades and expect change.
Reflect a moment: What virtual resources do you use now in
your classroom? How does 24/7 access
change that use? What new doors may
open? What challenges may arise within
the classroom, the school building, the larger community?
The Cultural:
The most nebulous, but most important of all three, are the cultural considerations and
growth possible in 1:1. Your 1:1
program will facilitate growth in the mission and identity of your school. That mission statement the committee
wrote? Use it! These devices are amazing at connecting
global learners, creating active citizens, developing critical thinking … all
those lofty ideals posted on the letterhead.
You’ll find more opportunities for professional development in
asynchronous instruction, webinars, streamed conferences and social media
PLNS. Identify the values of the
community and shift those values through the access 1:1 offers.
Reflect a moment: What are the key values of your
community? What are the key values
articulated in your mission statement?
How might these be developed in 1:1?
1:1 initiatives do not stop when the devices roll out! They do not stop with the last formal
training. Arguably, the real work begins
after delivery… when the rubber meets the road… when it’s not new any
more. And boy, can it be amazing!
Categories influenced by:
Heitsch, Elizabeth K. and Robert P. Holley. “The Information
and Learning Commons: Some Reflections.” New Review of Academic
Librarianship, 17:64-77, 2011
