1:1 Devices in Primary Schooling
The 1:1 devices strategy ensures that every student has constant access to a device whilst they are at school. Devices can include laptop computers, iPads, tablets or netbooks.
Implications at School
The 1:1 pedagogy is a move towards catering for the digital generation. Devices in the classroom are not something extra to be taught to the children, but offer an agent for existing processes within classroom routines (Clark et al, 2014). For example, instead of writing questions on the board for students to answer in written form or orally, devices offer the opportunity to email or blog questions for students to answer, and concurrently learn safety in social media and online etiquette.
The downfalls of this pedagogy some may say is funding costs of such a move and an imbalance of access to digital media between the school and home (Larkin & Finger, 2011). The Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (2008) has worked to rectify this imbalance by providing laptop computers to students in Years 9-12. There is also a push to integrate the use of mobile devices in primary schools as this enhances the use of ICT integration within the classroom using a medium that students are familiar with at home (Larkin & Finger, 2011). |
Implications at Home
As some schools may be unable to produce funding for every student to own a device, some schools in Australia are pushing for the BYO (bring your own) model outlined by the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (2015). This model entails that schools outline a device that may be brought to school from home. This model works hand in hand with the 1:1 pedagogy as it bypasses challenges in funding and ICT imbalance between the two environments.
Overall, the 1:1 strategy allows students to engage with material that teachers may represent as a blog or email, or connect with students through blackboard software or social media. This presents more opportunities for critical thinking and allows students to learn in schools relevant to the 21st century. |
Resources
Clark, T., Twining, P. & Chambers, D. (2014). Refining education? 1:1 computing strategies in Victorian schools. Australian Computers and Education Conference, 1(1), 80-90.
Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations. (2015), Department of education and training. retrieved from https://education.gov.au
Larkin, K. & Finger, G. (2011). Netbook computers as an appropriate solution for 1:1 computer use in primary schools. Australian Educational Computing, 26(1), 27-34.
Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations. (2015), Department of education and training. retrieved from https://education.gov.au
Larkin, K. & Finger, G. (2011). Netbook computers as an appropriate solution for 1:1 computer use in primary schools. Australian Educational Computing, 26(1), 27-34.