Aside from class observations and interviewing students and teachers, my position at School One also provides me with the opportunity to see the practice behind implementing a one-to-one laptop program. Currently, the school is working towards providing laptops to students entering the ninth grade next fall which already seems to be well underway.
My Role
At School One, a committee has been set up to discuss the smooth transition of laptops into the classroom. Logistics aside, the main problem seems to be that teachers are not sure of how to incorporate laptops into the learning space. Certain teachers are unsure of what digital tools and programs they may use to enhance their students’ learning which of course, is their ultimate goal.
This is where I will be stepping in. After discussions with my supervisor, I now have the task of locating articles detailing how laptops can be beneficial to students. Additionally, I will also be putting together lists of tools and ideas on how to use them across the disciplines. Finally, I will also consider classroom management and come up with tips on how to get teachers to ensure that their students stay on topic.
This project also serves as a stepping stone to other issues surrounding the use of technology in education. The use of laptops not only requires technical knowledge, but also the development of digital literacy. Part of this involves the understanding of identities on the Internet and how they can be constructed and maintained. As such, I will also be looking for materials that will educate parents, teachers and students on how to maintain an online presence, what the implications of cyberbullying are, and also, how to sift through the vast amounts of information located on the web. Not only will this be beneficial in a practical sense, but I also hope that this will help me formulate a clearer idea of how digital literacy has come to be specified.
Tags: Digital Literacy, Goals, Laptop