One-to-One Computing From My Perspective

To me, in theory one-to-one computing systems seem like a great idea for classroom use. I have no problem with getting laptops into the hands of students because by the time they gradate high school, because many of their future careers will be computer based. Also with Apple making useful and quality education apps what seems like every five minutes, and the fact that laptops look a lot like gaming systems, which really engage kids to want to learn, I have to say that I would like to work in a school where this is happening. However, what I see as a potentially large problem with one-to-one computing is the fact that school districts are so money conscious, that they would spend a lot of money on all of the technology, but be cheap with providing teachers with the professional development, and employing a technology-help staff member (such as the ties office helpers) to be able to teach a technology integrated class everyday with computers, so that it is beneficial rather than distracting to the students and teachers. As the article stated, “Buying laptops is the easiest part of the process, but too often school districts neglect such fundamental items as providing initial and ongoing professional development for the teachers and providing sufficient tech support,” What I feel that that school's will not consider is investing money in preventive and proactive variables such as computer's getting viruses, student's breaking the computers, compatibility issues, privacy and home access, and individual teacher's personal experience/confidence/preference/teaching style when it comes to integrating technology into the majority of their class day.