I must thank Dean Shareski for starting the dialogue about the importance of human contact and connection. In his article, "Maybe 1 to 1 isn't such a great idea," (http://ideasandthoughts.org/2011/08/05/maybe-1-to-1-isnt-such-a-great-idea/ ) Shareski discusses his concerns with providing students 1 to 1 computers. He cautions educators to consider the importance of human interaction that occurs. It reminds me of the home-schooling debate.
What is it, that the school environment provides students that home-schooling or in Shareski's argument, online learning or 1 to 1 computing does not? According to Shareski is "What they may not be able to do at home is sit with 2 or 3 classmates and design, talk, build and interact face to face." (8/5/11)
I really think this is an important discussion to have when districts are trying to use monies efficiently and still provide students with an education that REALLY prepares them for the future. Businesses are telling educators that they need a work force that can collaborate and create together. They also want students to be able to work remotely and seek resources on line. These skills are not measured well on standardized test so the debate begins. Online classes are required but need strong personal organization and discipline (spoken from experience) Group work is one of the hardest teaching experiences to establish successfully. But if students are not given these experiences early in their schooling, it will never happen.
Students need to be with other students to learn how to be with others, to develop social awareness. These skills cannot be taught by staring at a computer or sitting at home finishing work online. It is not a terrible thing to have to share. I feel like the pendulum has swung from one computer for 40 students to 1:1. But that is not always the best either. Sharing and learning to compromise and work together is an extremely important skill to learn. But it must be done in the context of face to face circumstances. Only then will students be able to extend those experiences to collaborative and independent situations the Web has to offer.
I teach in a district that has a 1:1 laptop program. It is nice that the students all have individual access to the computers. I by no means cut collaboration or face-to-face teaching out of my curriculum when the computers were brought in. When assigning group work I find that it is easier to track who did what, with the computers rather than the previous model of one or two students doing all of the work.
ReplyDeleteMany website and Web 2.0 Tools have the ability to collaborate. It also provides the quiet students an opportunity to share without having to speak up. I can't imagine going back to students having to share devices!
I am in a 1:1 lab and I agree. I could never go back to sharing in that respect. I think it is in how you set up the collaborative activity that is more important in most situations than whether they are on separate computers. Thanks for sharing.
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