This past week, our district’s Teaching & Learning Advisory group (which contains admins, teachers, parents, and a few board members) received a request to form a committee to study 1:1, or the ability to provide a technology device to students. After discussion, the request was approved – but with some very significant guidance and expectations.
The committee’s task is to report back on…
1) What are the pros / cons of providing devices to students?
2) What are the benefits and anticipated results of going 1:1? If we did 1:1, what do we expect to see as results?
3) What specific benefits are other districts seeing as a result of 1:1?
4) Gauge community (staff, parents, community) interest in 1:1
What tasks are NOT to be done by the committee…
1) No discussing devices: There is no need to compare technology devices – we do NOT have approval for deploying 1:1, there is no need for this discussion yet.
2) No discussing roll out or training plans: There is no need to discuss which grade levels and/or which schools are impacted.
3) No discussing time frames: There is NO approval for 1:1, so the time frame / deployment options does not need to be discussed at this time.
Q1. Why are there all these restrictions/limitations, what’s the concern?
A1. Any 1:1 implementation is a major project involving significant time and resources. We must be very clear about WHY it should or should not be done – and to help us focus on the “Why”, we are removing the discussion points about “when”, “how”, and “what device”.
Q2. Is there an assumption that “new” money will be available for a 1:1 project?
A2. First, there is no assumption that 1:1 will happen – but the committee is to take the angle that NO new money is available. Instead, we are focusing on “Would we be willing to use our existing resources and change what we currently do to have this?”
Q3, Who will be on the committee? How are individuals being selected?
A3. This has not be answered yet. However, the advisory committee has asked that that group consist of individuals from a variety of audiences (not just staff). In addition, they have requested that it be a mixture of technology experiences.
Q4. When is the study committee meeting?
A4. Dates/times have not be set, but will be published when the process is finalized. We’re hoping to get information out in the next week.
Even though the details haven’t all been worked out, you’re welcome to drop me an email or respond in the comments section of this blog if you have thoughts, idea, etc.
Brian Abeling
abelingb@wdmcs.org
West Des Moines Community Schools Technology 