Dive Brief:
- With more schools making the move to 1:1 deployments, Vancouver Public Schools is being spotlighted by eSchool News as setting an example by approaching its device rollout at a slower pace.
- For Superintendent Dr. Steven Webb, the top-down approach of one-size-fits-all didn't make sense, especially since the ultimate goal of a 1:1 system is individualized learning. This disconnect forced Webb and his staff to reach out to the community and conduct multiple surveys in several languages to find out what the school's stakeholders felt would be the best use of tech.
- The district is currently in its third year of implementing a 1:1 rollout.
Dive Insight:
Too often, districts rush to implement 1:1 deployments, and once every student has a computer, they step back and ask what should be done with all of the tech. The process should, in fact, be reversed. As Webb did, district leaders should consider first their school goals and then consider how technology can be used as a tool to help achieve those goals. Of course, adequate professional development should also be provided to ensure educators know how best to use the devices in the classroom.
Ultimately, districts should also keep in mind that tech shouldn't serve as a be-all, end-all solution. It's a vehicle for success, not the destination.
