Laptop Learning Programs and Online Safety

This is my first compilation post since September. It has been in DRAFT since January. So, some of the "stuff" is a bit old.  The newspaper links can also disappear as they archive copy.

Yes, this type of post is the lazy person's approach to blogging.  Better put my mind to something than nothing, I say.

These references are related to the topics of laptop learning and responsible online behaviour.

Online behaviour:

Social networking sites new arena for bullying
UK kids online behaviour
Fighting bullying in schools and online


On laptops:

Six years of 1 to 1 learning in Floydada, Texas
When going 1 to 1 isn't exciting
Laptops open new doors to learning
Laptop programs are an important aid to learning

These topics remain pretty hot around the world.  I usually tweet them and that may mean I will not blog them anymore.

1: 1 Learning - Where to now?

I will put up more links to DERNSW activities over the coming months. It is all go!

 ... and the ideas from overseas, keep coming too.

1:1 - making the most of it.

Tools and services to use with 1:1 learning

what about wikis

and blogging to enhance digital literacy

DER in New South Wales-Where to now? (2)

More about:

In the last of my professional learning posts, I wrote about the fine things Bianca Hewes and Phillippa Cleaves are doing to support and inspire teacher learning.

A few other teachers are active too, here is a post on using Microsoft OneNote by Melissa Giddens

... another from Bianca Hewes, reporting on North Sydney Region DER Think Tank professional learning days.

I hope someone in the DER team is compiling a collection of DER teacher posts from around the state.

and the rest of the world ...

Building the world's largest student laptop scheme an article from NZ.

and another project from NZ.

Just another post on individualising learning

Digital Revolution versus Digital Distraction: A Hands-On Argument

This type of headline has been appearing more frequently of late.  Articles about banning laptops or handheld devices are always worth a read, just to get on top of the arguments.

Seems like a no-brainer to me, but hey, who am I to judge what higher-education staff might require in their classrooms.


Many others at all levels of schooling are more positive.

1:1 is more than devices

Student comments about the use of netbooks in Year 7

Good at games: mobile learning proves a hit in schools and Web-based learning leaves schools in two minds, are two interesting articles from the UK, Guardian.


Learning with laptops and various handheld devices, is a topic that still has a lot of time to develop and play out in primary and secondary levels of schooling.

"Hands-On" Learning with Laptops and "i"devices (3)

Third in this series ...

A story from Wales: Free laptops as windows of opportunity

Another from England, Somerset school issues all 1400 pupils with their own laptop

From the USA:
Residents hear more about the Central York laptop plan

Innovative ways to engage learners with cell-phones.

More and more initiatives every day from around the world.

"Hands-On" Learning with Laptops and "i"devices (2)

Survey: Student want Mobile Devices in School

Educators struggle to design mobile-learning content

Central York School District, Pennsylvania and the possibility of laptops for high school students

Rethinking plan for educating at-risk students.

Nintendo aims to get consoles in schools

Collection in progress as articles appear ... look out for three in this series

DER in New South Wales-Where to now? (1)

Where to for this exciting and successful project? Education in NSW is on the boil.

2010 laptop rollout starts

Education Minister, Verity Firth updates progress of laptop rollout at Kogarah HS.

Brendan Jones speaks about his thoughts on the "Education Revolution". This is a valuable post.

Diane Marshall at the Adobe Leaders Conference

Bandwidth for the DERNSW - Stephen Wilson speaks at the Adobe Leaders Conference

A parent/s view of DER ... how relevant to learning is the website referred to?

Enticing teachers to use technology a useful post by a teacher from NSW, North Coast

Watch out for the next in this series ... DERNSW is on the move ...

"Hands On" Learning with Laptops and "i"devices

Going 1:1 - a conference post by Kim Cofino.

More from ASB Uplugged

Pupils to use cellphones as learning tool - NZ initiative

Tech booming in North Dakota schools

Chicago high school laptop initiative

At college and university - diverse opinions of the value of laptops during lectures

A laptop in very backpack

The great laptop debate. Desirable or a distraction in class?

Should schools be giving out computers?

In Iowa, Danville High hopes to give students laptops.

1:1Models: Options Abound

1:1 computing programs only as good as their teachers

How the iphone could reboot education

Don't forget to read all my previous laptop, netbook and handheld device posts.

Digital Tools and Laptops for Learning - Global Buzz (13)

Continuing the buzz ...

1:1: Educators add individual computers and internet access to classroom

Calgary Public Schools can soon "tweet" in class using iphones, laptops.

Revisiting a ning group about the Victorian experience of 1:1 Learning Environments.

A new equation for maths students, an article about using laptops and other tools to improve results.

Laptops for Learning - NSW Experiences 2010

More as we roll ...

Forbes High roll out

Digital Tools and Laptops for Learning - Global Buzz (12)

Seventh graders in Richfield Springs now have laptops to take home, a story from New York.

Some schools rethink bans on cell phones
This MSNBC article references activities in a few American states.

Another opinion piece on laptop learning: The Truth about 1:1 Laptop Programs

Student response systems still attract interest in the field.

Jury still out on EVSC laptop computer program

Finneytown students enjoy being test subjects.

An alternative view: Ban cell phones in school

Wesley Fryer writes: Teaching more content with an IWB is not transformational

Digital Tools and Laptops for Learning - Global Buzz (11)

Down and dirty ... no neat links yet ...

http://blogs.itbusiness.ca/2010/02/one-laptop-per-student-a-pre-requisite-to-a-21st-century-public-education

http://www.edweek.org/dd/articles/2010/02/03/02customlearning.h03.html

http://www.slideshare.net/ajmccarthynz/evaluating-the-effectiveness-of-laptops-in-the-classroom

More about Iowa 1:1, Wesley Fryer writes and podcasts the detail.

1:1 learning: laptop programs that work

Setting table for learning

Israel’s Time To Know Aims To Revolutionize The Classroom

Some schools rethink bans on cell phones

Laptops in the classroom - getting feedback by Tami Brass.

Laptops for Learning - NSW Experiences in the New Year (11)

@simonjob has written a post that hopefully will encourage more staff to dive into DET resources, including Laptop Wraps.

I commented:
"Useful post, Simon and great that you are using some of the valuable DET resources that have been created for learning (with laptops) by CLI and Curriculum Support. The questions you have posed to scaffold the thinking of colleagues is very wise also.
There are so many excellent resources on TaLe created by talented teachers that can be dropped straight into a teaching programs. Your idea of tweaking, modifying and adapting these resources, is the way to go."

Search out the Laptop Wraps yourself in the parent section of TaLe.

This listing, Learning resources for DER-NSW, will help too.

#DERNSW - Warning to Browse Safely

Classroom of the Future
Correct Vibewire Youth Inc link
The article states: "It is a warning to all young computer hackers, as five Sydney high school students have been made an example of following their four day suspension, after compromising the security settings on their government supplied laptops only weeks after they were first issued by the Department of Education and Training.

According to a NSW Department of Education and Training spokesperson, “These devices have internet filters and other security measures…breaching the Charter can result in disciplinary action”."

The Digital Education Revolution in NSW

Laptop Learning - More Global Buzz (10)

An interesting strategy in Arizona to keep students in public education.

Across Australia a number of programs are being rolled-out.

More detail on what is happening with 1-to-1 learning in Queensland, Australia.

Despite problems, laptops boost student test scores

More detail on what is happening with 1-to-1 learning in Queensland, Australia.

Wesley Fryer keeps us up to date with 1:1 program developments:
From One Computer Lab to 1:1 – Best Practices of Technology Integration by Katie Bader and Diane Bilcer

A 1:1 project in Yokohama International School with Apple computers.

Laptop Learning - More Global Buzz (9)

Don't forget to read the previous 8 posts.

A computer per student leads to higher performance

For many it is a budget issue: School budget cuts may delay laptop program in Hopkinton

This is news report on some activity from New Hampshire: Technology Brings New Tools To Classroom: Federal Stimulus Funds Will Increase Technology In NH Schools

A Nebraska Superintendent reports on a 1:1 initiative, Sioux County to implement 1-1 Initiative:
"Technology is another key area where the school can use the Title funds. Combined with funds from a separate REAP grant the district receives each year, Sioux County Schools is set to begin the 1-1 Initiative. The program will put a laptop computer in the hands of every high school student. The first computers are set to arrive this semester.
Gies said the students will be allowed to use the computers throughout their high school careers and will even have the possibility of taking them to college. This year’s juniors and seniors will have to turn the computers back into the school but after that the students will likely have the opportunity to either purchase the computers at a reduced rate or receive them free.
The increased use of distance learning is one of the driving factors behind implementing the program. “It really helps if the kids can have laptops right there when they’re doing their distance learning classes,” Gies said.

Chris Ludwig reports: 1:1 Laptop Programs: Shifting the Way Students Learn
"This week I was invited to write a guest blog for Edutopia on the #edchat discussion of 1:1 laptop programs and their impact on learning."
http://www.edutopia.org/1-to-1-laptop-programs-edchat-chris-ludwig

Science Daily writes on the same topic. A Computer Per Student Leads to Higher Performance Than Traditional Classroom Settings

@stuhasic reminded us on Twitter of the Teaching with Netbooks website, the videos may be of interest:

Every day, a new report from somewhere in the world.

Laptop Learning - More buzz (8)

Lee County Schools’ 1:1 laptop initiative, middle school teachers are receiving staff development ...

A story from Illinois:Reflection on our 1:1 and Day with Dr McLeod

A blog post on the topic: Are 1:1 Laptop programs the future of education? How does that change the way students learn?
This post is based on the latest #edchat and offers links to some additional 1:1 program information.

A report from Sanford, North Carolina on their laptop rollout.

Edina school leaders look to improve students' technology knowledge by providing 150 middle-schoolers with laptops.

Laptops for Learning - "Techno-Critique" - Debate about ROI

The End of Techno-Critique: The Naked Truth about 1:1 Laptop Initiatives and Educational Change by Mark E. Weston and Alan Bain

Download the article (Acrobat PDF, 279 K)

This article responds to a generation of techno-criticism in education. It contains a review of the key themes of that criticism. The context of previous efforts to reform education reframes that criticism. Within that context, the question is raised about what schools need to look and be like in order to take advantage of laptop computers and other technology. In doing so, the article presents a vision for self-organizing schools.

My comments: This article has been doing the rounds of Twitter over the last week.

Laptop Learning - More buzz (7)

Another US program: Laptop Learners, and the "I Create the Future" project, Tupelo City School, Mississippi

One of the most famous programs is covered on Maine Learns.

This article is a reference from the Maine website.

Digital wonder: Laptop computers at Mt. Blue High School

A Laptop program in Iowa: Laptops coming to South Page

Another view: Goodbye, Mr Microchips (or why computers should be banned from our schools)

The latest initiative from the UK, laptop Home Access.

Laptops, Netbooks, Notebooks - All Go for mlearning (6)

I absolutely love my google alerts, google reader and Twitter. So many great links from so many talented and committed people, to so many wonderful reads and so many inspiring achievements.

Every day, something new ...

Are One-to-One Laptop Programs Worth the Investment? Successful programs require more than financing.

More from Maine. The Maine thing about 1-to-1 computing

There is a complementary yet competing topic on the boil also.

It is the |ifactor| - ipods, ihphones and so on. I will aim to keep them separate.