I work in a public school district where every student has 24/7 access to a laptop, we are on the sixth year of this project. I have been in public education for 15 years now, six as a classroom teacher (high school math, business, and computer), and nine as a district technology director.
To those who feel there is no need for a computer outside one or two subjects, that's short-sighted. In music students compose their own songs, they record their practice sessions in mp3 files and email them to teachers for a critique, they find good prices on new and used instruments and parts, etc. In foreign language classes they have websites where they can work on one to one language skills, with the computer speakings words for them to help them learn them, they read websites in different languages, they record their practice vocabulary and phrases and email them to the teacher. In English, they create poetry, not only in words, but visually, through pictures, music, movies, and other media. Virtually every class has been transformed, not in what is taught, but how it is taught. It engages the students, it empowers them to take control of their education. Students in our school work harder than they ever did before on projects, enjoying the work, and taking pride in what they do. Not only do they get the "over-stressed" basics of reading, writing, science, math, and social studies, but they work on skills such as creativity, organization, problem-solving, collaboration, prioritizing, etc. Nearly every student is a better student because of the computers. Those that can't physically write well, can usually type much better. Those that are visual learners have tools at their disposal. Instead of forgetting a book at school, their books are always with them on the computer, at a weight of one laptop instead of a stack of six books. The students are better organized, using calendars, reminders, sticky notes, and other applications to help keep their busy lives lined out.
A computer is a very powerful and versatile tool, but it's just that it's a tool. If the current class doesn't require that the students use computers, the teacher asks them to put them away and they do the old fashioned pencil and paper work just like pre-one-to-one days. When the moment strikes that they are needed they are used, when not needed, not used. During school hours, the ONLY thing students can do on the computers are specific assignments for specific classes, or they get in trouble, just like if they mis-used a pencil and were writing notes in class. We use VNC apps to view the students perpetually, the first few weeks they quickly realize that we are "always watching" and setting that standard means the number of mis-uses are very infrequent. When schools come to visit, we proudly bring up every students screen and randomly click on them, watching students, chatting with students, and completely impressing the visiting schools with the quality of work and time on task our students have.
For those that claim it doesn't help with student achievement, that depends on what you measure. If the measure of a student is just math, reading, and science skills, the no, it won't make that black and white difference. If the measure of a student is being organized, creative, self-sufficient, engaged, motivated, excited, collaborative, self-discovering, and able to pursue individual areas of interest, then it is a black and white difference. In a district where 60% of our students qualify for free and reduced lunch, we have a higher percentage of students attending and succeeding as college level classes and their high school classes, the average grade for all students is going up, the well-rounded education they are getting is better than ever before, and we have less discipline problems, better attendance, and lower drop-outs. We have also found that our math, reading, and science test scores are slightly better, but that was never the point of the computer, it's an essential tool for learning, a tool that is used in nearly every job, and a tool that our students are fortunate to have and I feel, if properly implemented, all students grade 6-12 should have. If not properly implemented, it's a distraction and a problem, the success or failure isn't about the computer, it's about the implementation of that tool.
As for the article itself, some private schools are saying their networks are saturated, with up to two devices per student, a laptop and an iPad device. They probably have even more saturation if they allow students with smart phones or wi-fi enabled personal devices on their network. There is a growing problem that schools face with the increase of technology bandwidth. Most websites today require 4-6 times the bandwidth than they did eight years ago, covered with pictures, flash, ads, and even embedded videos and audio. Schools will continue to face two issues, enough bandwidth coming in for educationally based services for their students and staff and enough wireless access for a plethora of wireless devices heavily saturated in small areas (classrooms.) They are both valid concerns and I'd like to see the Slashdot crowd discuss ways fix those issues instead of bashing ideas without some forethought and first hand experience. (Walk a mile . . .)
What really is ridiculous is that my son in fifth grade has to have THREE different types of writing devices, a pencil, a red pen, and a highlighter. That's ridiculous, he has a pencil, it can do everything the other two can, why would he ever have a second writing utensil, much less a third? He only has one hand to write with, a second is a complete waste of money and resources? The iPad has some unique advantages, a laptop has some unique advantages, if a private school has found good uses for both and the money is there, perhaps like pencils, they found that two tools can accomplish more than one? Without details, I can't comment, the best I can do is have an open mind.
