ISD Tablet Initiative
Today’s adolescents have grown up with technology throughout their lives. According to statistics provided in Apple’s 1:1 white paper, they collectively control more than $175 billion annually, as consumers. However, students often feel disconnected with the education system that haven’t utilized the power of technology, which they have been using day in and day out. Many schools and savvy educators have understood this and are moving towards utilizing the power of these technologies in education and making the teaching-learning process more authentic and contemporary.
As Daniel Pink writes in A Whole New Mind : Moving From the Information Age to the Conceptual Age, there is an emerging world where critical thinking, problem solving, and a deep level of information fluency is increasingly more important than content recall by itself. Those (both educators & schools) who have understood this, are embracing a bold new catalyst to learning: 1 to 1 computing. The “laptop for every student” concept is changing how, when, and where students learn. Keeping up with the trends, ISD rolled out its tablet initiative from during 2010-11 school year.
Goals:
- Increase Student motivation and achievement by providing 24/7 access to technology & online/offline resources
- Empower our students with 21st century skills
- Refine the teaching-learning process & make it more modern and student friendly
Rationale: 1:1 programs
- Improve student engagement & motivation and in turn, improve student achievement
- Provide access to online and offline resources anytime and anywhere, thus extending learning beyond specific times & space
- Enhance teaching and learning processes
- Empower students with 21st century skills necessary for success in their world
Much research done on 1:1 programs support these arguments.