1:1 Computing

Put the power of learning in their hands.

1:1 computing is increasingly being talked about by educators, with a growing body of evidence to show that it can significantly improve overall educational attainment. The term 1:1 means that students (and teachers) are given their own personal devices to use how, when and where they want to. This puts the power of technology in the individual's hands and can have a significant impact on both teaching and learning practice. 1:1 Computing with Shape the Future »

Some of the benefits of a 1:1 scheme include:

• Higher student achievement - because students can work at their own pace, the attainment gap between learners can be reduced.
• Increased student engagement - due to peer assisted learning and collaboration and greater choice about when and where to study.
• Transform teaching and learning - through the ability to delivered personalised teaching and learning.
• Increased school efficiency - with technology enabling earlier intervention where necessary and easier 1:1 tutoring.

"We've never seen results like those we've achieved through 1:1." - Kirsty Tonks, Shireland Collegiate Academy, Director of e-learning

"Evaluation and research needs to be in place from the beginning, and teachers should have the opportunity to observe others using the devices" - Diana Bannister, Director for Learning Technologies at the University of Wolverhampton.

But is important to ask yourself some fundamental questions before bringing 1:1 to your school. The first of these has to be what you want to achieve, because getting it wrong can be a costly mistake. Your vision needs to be clear, but it doesn't have to be as grand as transforming teaching and learning practices, some 1:1 schemes are born from simple necessity and a need to save costs.

Key areas for consideration:

• What is the goal for your 1:1 scheme? Is it simply more efficiency, or a grander aspiration of transforming teaching and learning?
• How can you ensure the technology just works? It is important to consider how the devices can move seamlessly between home and school. Think through the software and infrastructure needed including capacity of your wireless, security, charging, support and e-safety.
• How will you embed the scheme through training and development? On-going development of teachers and technicians is needed in order to inspire individuals and support the success of the scheme both in terms of pedagogy and technology.
• How can you ensure that parents are included and engaged? Education and support for parents is key to make sure they embrace the technology and ensure the safety of their child.
• How will you measure the success of your scheme? From 1 year to 3 what will help you to understand if this is working for your school?

Choosing the right funding model for your school, broadly there are four models.

• Bring Your Own Device - where schools encourage pupils to bring in their own devices from home
• Parent funded devices - where schools encourage parents to buy or lease a device from the school.
• Joint parent/school funded- where schools provide every child with a device, maintained by the school and funded in part by parents/PTA.
• School funded - where school provide 1:1 access from their own budgets or a loan pool where technology can be booked out.

"If all 1.6 million children in digitally excluded households had access to a computer and the internet at home, it could enhance their potential lifetime earnings by over £10.8 billion depending on how it affects their academic performance, especially at GCSE level." - The Economic Case for Digital Inclusion PriceWaterhouseCoopers report, October 2009

When BECTA reported back on its Home Access programme it found that children who are online at home can achieve a two-grade improvement in a subject at GCSE - that can mean the difference between a child getting an 'A' grade or a 'C' grade.