The practice known as "Bring Your Own Technologies" (BYOT also known as BYOD - D=Devices) to school has gained much traction. This newsletter is designed to offer a foundation to guide BYOT drivers, goals, knowledge, and practices.  The experts who graciously accepted our invitation to write articles have provided sound insights based on research and practitioners' experiences.

There is great hope for real school transformation when the BYOT approach is driven by an overarching vision, aligned goals and strategic action plans.  At One-to-One Institute our mission is to facilitate the personalization of learning through effective implementation of technologies with curriculum, instruction, teaching, and learning. The lofty ideal of reshaping education to a student-centered, directed, technology-powered ecosystem is the heart of our work. 

 again became clear to me how different 1:1 programs can look. Those conference attendees who weren't yet 1:1 may even have been a bit confused because they heard so many different ways to  implement 1:1. Some attendees and presenters described their successes with a Mac laptop platform while others highlighted their success with a PC or Linux laptop program. Others explained that they had implemented 1:1 using tablets or small mobile devices. A smaller number of conference attendees talked about their Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) programs; BYOD is another 1:1 solution and it is  certainly gaining popularity.

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Partnership for Powerful Learning:

A BYOL Pilot Project at Forest Hills School District

• A partnership between students, parents and teachers is critical to the success of a BYOL program.
• A strong professional development model is the most important piece of a BYOL program.
• A BYOL program is more than the technology; it is a shift in our understanding of what it means to learn.
• Creating an ecosystem of multiple platforms encourages teachers to look for multiple ways of delivering curriculum versus the one-size-fits-all.
• Putting technology into the hands of students 24/7 increases fluency with the technology itself promotes better management and organization skills and encourages multiple ways of interacting, collaborating and communicating.  It also promotes student ownership of their learning.
• Perhaps one of the most important skills we can teach our students is how to select the most appropriate tools based on individual skills and capabilities, as well as the task at hand.  Helping them develop a personalized tool belt is essential for success in the 21st Century.

1 to 1 Initiative.  A Continuing Journey

By Matt Anderson, Instructional Technology Coordinator-Ashwaubenon School District

Ashwaubenon is a suburban district located in northeast Wisconsin abutting Green Bay.   Two years ago the Ashwaubenon School District embarked on a journey to transform how teaching and learning happens in classrooms. 

Today that journey is leading to students bringing their own personal digital devices into our buildings.  We currently have a blended "1 to 1 Initiative" which includes half of our high school with district issued netbooks and a Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) that began with selected seniors. The power of students having a device in class to use to access information is sometimes difficult to measure through traditional quantitative assessment.  However, the change in engagement of students is amazing! 

The path to the accepted BYOD is one that has been developing quickly over the past few years. As many districts followed the traditional one-to-one computing environment, the paths of the emerging BYOD and the traditional format were destined to cross.  Districts across the country are experiencing the adverse effects of the global economy on their funding and at the same time being given  more mandates and expectations that do not come with additional funding. So what is the answer to bringing technology into the classroom?

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Many schools still have a "No Cell Phone" policy. The primary reasons are that teachers and district leaders are concerned that students will use them inappropriately, that they will be distracted by texting, or that ringing phones will interrupt teacher lectures. I think it is better to allow students to bring cell phones and other devices, but to have guidelines that help teach students how to use them appropriately. The pedagogical issues underpinning many of the teachers' concerns, however, are a topic for another article.

Every year, Intel honors U.S. schools that implement innovative, replicable programs that inspire their students and lead to a positive educational outcomes in the areas of math and science

Up to three schools at each level-elementary, middle, and high school-will be named as finalists in the math and science categories. The 18 schools will receive a cash grant of $5,000 from the Intel Foundation and a trip to Washington, D.C., for a four-member team from their school and district. Six winners will be selected from the finalists and will receive an additional $5,000 cash grant for a total of $10,000. One of these winners will be selected as the "Star Innovator" and will receive an additional $15,000 grant for a total of $25,000. All five winning schools and the Star Innovator will also receive products and services from program sponsors.

Don't miss this opportunity to apply at  www.schoolsofdistinction.com- the application deadline is Feb. 23, 2012.

On February 1, 2012, at the first-ever Digital Learning Day Town Hall in Washington, DC, FCC Chairman Genachowski and Secretary of Education Duncan challenged states and the education and technology industries to get digital textbooks into the hands of all students in five years (see USA Today, Associated Press stories).  Barriers to adoption of digital textbooks include: antiquated state procurement rules, lack of device and content interoperability, and connectivity costs.  Six months ago, Genachowski and Duncan launched an effort with business and education leaders to help schools make the transition to digital textbooks. At the event, this collaborative presented them with the "Digital Textbook Playbook," a resource for schools making the move to digital learning.  As a next step, Genachowski and Duncan announced a meeting in March 2012 with education CEOs, state officials, and nonprofit leaders to advance the national adoption of digital textbooks.  

The FCC and USDOE  acknowledged and thanked the contributors 

 who developed this document including Leslie Wilson, CEO of OTO.

On April 11, 2012, the Iowa 1to1 Institute (i11i) will be held in Des Moines, Iowa, from 9 am-4 pm at the Iowa Events Center. This will be the third year of the conference which has grown from 600 participants in year one to 1300 last year.  

The purposes of the conference have remained the same since the initial conference:

• Help Iowa's 1:1 districts learn from each other about innovative teaching, learning, and administrative practices that are occurring in their districts;
• Build excitement and 'buzz' around 1:1 laptop computing initiatives in the state; and 
• Help others who are interested in 1:1 computing learn more about how to get started and be successful.
•  If you are interested in learning more or participating, you can visit the i11i  site for more information.  http://www.iowa1to1.org/home