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A guide to getting started1-to-1 LearningThe power of

2 The power of 1-to-1 learning

AcknowledgementWe gratefully acknowledge the significant contribution of the Queensland Government Department of Education, Training and the Arts in developing this practical guide for schools, the content for which has been largely based on their Smart Classrooms® publication, 21 steps to 21st Century 1-to-1 success.

Engaging and inspiring studentsThe government, through the digital education revolution initiative, is accelerating a process that is already underway in many Australian schools where 1-to-1 learning is transforming education. By providing students with their own laptops and helping teachers integrate technology into their curriculum, schools are fostering personalised learning, exploration, critical thinking and collaboration. Educators in these schools find that students are more motivated by relevant, contemporary learning where technology is as immersive as it is in their everyday lives where they play games online, use mobile phones, share music and photos and express themselves using blogs and social media.

The benefits of 1-to-1 learning programs are well documented. In 2005 the Journal of Educational Computing Research published a paper entitled Learning with technology: the impact of laptop use on student achievement. Key findings included:

• Laptops lead to more student writing and writing of a higher quality

• Laptops increase access to information and improve research analysis skills

• Students spend more time engaging in collaborative work and participate in more project-based instruction

• Students direct their own learning, readily engage in problem-solving and critical thinking

• Students consistently show deeper and more flexible uses of technology

• Students spend more time doing homework on computers

Researchers from the University of Bristol (UK) in their 2008 Becta mobile learning study1 of schools also observed shifts in pedagogy, embraced by teachers who “...expressed aspirations for the quite radical changes that they see mobile devices might bring about. These aspirations include more democratic learning environments, changes in teacher-pupil relationships, more pupil autonomy and personalisation in learning.”

It’s as much about people as technologyTo successfully implement a 1-to-1 learning program, it requires much more than technology. It demands an equal focus on a strongly supported vision and culture across the whole school community, effective technical infrastructure and support, development of constructivist, student-centred pedagogies and structured professional development for staff.

This guide takes the key learnings from 15 years’ of studies into what makes a 1-to-1 learning program successful and provides a staged approach to assist schools in planning their own programs. It is provided by way of general information only and should not be relied on without seeking independent expert advice. 1/ Tablet PCs in Schools, Becta Research Report for the Open University 2008

This is not just an issue of adding new equipment, it is indeed a complete paradigm shift, as we see the benefits of this equipment to support the embedding of ICT across the curriculum as well as improving communication and sharing of documents.

Principal cited in the Becta Report, Tablet PCs in schools, a review of literature and selected projects”

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www.microsoft.com.au/1to1 3

A guide to 1-to-1 learning in your school

Plan Form a project team .................................... 4

Research 1-to-1 learning programs ......... 4

Define your 1-to-1 learning model .......... 4

Create an ICT strategic plan ...................... 5

Gain support from your School Board or Parents and Citizens Association ........ 6

Develop a communication strategy ........ 6

Decide Select software that supports 1-to-1 learning .............................................. 7

Select laptops ................................................ 8

Consider the collaboration and access framework ................................. 8

Work with an experienced partner .......... 8

BudgetPrepare a detailed budget .......................10

Ownership & financing options ..............10

The Microsoft School Agreement ..........10

Prepare Setting policies and procedures .............12

Ensure teachers have laptops and professional development first ...............12

Professional development .......................12

Review physical learning spaces .............13

Addressing anticipated questions ..........13

Implement & ReviewOrder laptops and prepare for deployment ........................................... 14

Distribute student laptops ........................ 14

Review and evaluate .................................. 14

INDEX


n Did you find case studies that clearly showed a link between the use of technology and improved student learning in schools like yours? Can you adapt these models to suit your school?

n How was success measured? What will your yardsticks be? How will you quantify and report on success on an ongoing basis?

n To what extent should the introduction of a 1-to-1 initiative improve teachers’ ability to address diversity and better personalise students’ learning?

n What are your plans to continually improve your understanding of what 1-to-1 learning might make possible for students?

n Who will be the ICT leader?

n Who will manage the project?

n Is there sufficient support for the team?

Together with your project team take time to debate how 1-to-1 learning will be in your school. Decide how classroom practice will leverage technology to improve student learning outcomes. Consider how you can use computers in all areas of curriculum. Discuss the challenges other schools faced in the implementations you researched and how you will manage similar challenges in your school.

The first undertaking for your project team will be to look into how other schools have managed 1-to-1 learning programs. As a team, gather case studies featuring different models for 1-to-1 learning. Ask representatives from schools with programs already in place to address you as a group. Evaluating their experiences will help you to:

• Define your own vision for 1-to-1 learning in your school

• Get a more detailed understanding of what exactly is involved, including cost, timeframe, technologies and impact on learning and teaching

• Obtain positive evidence which you can use to support your argument that 1-to-1 learning programs improve student learning outcomes

• Counter any resistance or negativity you may encounter from the school community by having detailed facts

PLANYou’ll need a dedicated enthusiastic group of people to steer a 1-to-1 learning program. While it’s not essential to have experts in computer and networking technologies on your team, it’s a good idea to support them with outside expertise if they’re not. The most important thing is that your ICT leader has a clear vision of how technology can improve student learning and teaching in your school. Nominate roles and responsibilities (ICT leader, project manager, finance manager, public relations manager, etc) so that everyone has a clear idea of how they are expected to contribute.

Research 1-to-1 learning programs

Form a project team

Define your 1-to-1 learning model


1. Define your vision statementYour vision statement should provide guidance, serve as the foundation of your decisions and inform the direction of all stakeholders. Try to draw the vision and objectives for your program from the curriculum rather than the technology. In one concise statement it needs to:

• Articulate how and why your 1-to-1 program will lead to improvements in student learning outcomes

• Capture the essence of the program that will serve your school for years to come

• Provide a standard against which the project can be measured

2. Conduct a detailed readiness assessment You must understand where you currently stand before building a strategic path to where you want to be. Do this by preparing a readiness assessment that considers your current resource position on:

• ICT infrastructure – Carry out a complete audit of your ICT infrastructure including the age of computers. What is the current computer-to-student ratio across grade levels? Determine what ICT is being used now, and how much can be redirected to support the ICT plan.

• Students and staff – What are the ICT capabilities of students and qualifications of your staff and how will professional development be provided?

• Facilities – What can your school’s wiring and electrical system support? Is there sufficient storage, air conditioning and security in the rooms? What is the state of your network? What will you require in the way of switches, routers, servers, storage, wireless and Internet access and network security? How will you manage technical support?

3. Create an implementation plan Document your expected outcomes from 1-to-1 learning in your school, your strategies to deliver these outcomes, a timeline for key milestones and the associated budget, including dates for task completion. Aim for a manageable timeline for project implementation: typically 6-12 months.

n How well can you articulate to your school community your vision for why you think implementing a 1-to-1 learning program in your school is important?

n How can you best extend an understanding of that vision across staff and the wider school community?

Create an ICT strategic plan


n Can you provide your School Board with research and stories from other 1-to-1 schools?

n Do parents understand the reasons for moving to 1-to-1 and support your decision in this reform?

n Has the School Board participated in creating your vision for 1-to-1 learning?

n Is your vision understood and supported by staff prior to you going public? Can your staff articulate this vision for you?

n Have you conducted parent information sessions (with handouts)?

n How will you publicly celebrate successes?

n Have you been transparent and open in providing information on the project?

Determine the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and the potential obstacles in implementing your vision. Then, prepare a communication strategy. Train the people carrying out the strategy on the importance of being knowledgeable, courteous and responsive to questions from others.

Effective, economical ways of reaching out to the community include:

• Parent groups, clubs, business and community meetings

• A brochure or newsletter that promotes your vision for ICT in education

• Articles for the local newspaper

• Promoting your ICT vision on your school or community Web site

Need help with planning?The Microsoft 1-to-1 learning Web site features a selection of resources to assist you including:

• Case studies and videos from schools which have already implemented 1-to-1 learning programs

• Sample school mission statements

• Sample readiness assessments

• Links to our Innovative Teachers Web site which contains lesson plans and ideas from teachers who have already implemented 21st Century learning

www.microsoft.com.au/1to1

A move to a 1-to-1 learning model may challenge many people’s paradigm of what learning is, however, the more support you have, the easier it will be to implement your plan. Therefore it’s essential to communicate early and often with all stakeholders, including the School Board, ICT manager, teachers, parents and students to gain their support.

Gain support from your School Board or Parents and Citizens Association

Develop a communication strategy


The software that you offer your students is vital to the success of your 1-to-1 learning program. They will need powerful yet easy-to-use applications to get the most from their learning experiences. They will also need to use software that is relevant to the workplace so that their skills are readily transferable. Ideally, applications should also support research and teamwork and enable learners to communicate and collaborate across devices, systems and users – not just within your school, but within the wider community.

You may well already be licensed under an agreement to use software, such as Windows

Vista®, the Microsoft® Office system and Microsoft® Student. This can provide the building blocks for a good 1-to-1 learning experience with affordable licence agreements, the ability to extend access to home use, compatibility across devices and innovative collaboration features.

Microsoft Office includes some very useful applications for students, such as Microsoft®

Office OneNote®, which enables students to collate their notes, pictures, audio and video recordings in one easy place. It offers students a media-rich environment into which they can drag links, text or images from Web pages into their notes and use handwriting if and when required.

Microsoft® Photo Story is a complimentary application that can be downloaded. It’s an easy and powerful way for students to create interactive class presentations featuring photographs, narration, text and sounds.

List the applications you want to use under the following categories:

• Communication and collaboration

• Research and recording

• Content creation

• Presentation

n What are your educational objectives of each class, and will the software support these objectives?

n Does the software have enough functionality to support your present and future needs? Does it support communication and collaborative learning?

n How is your software licensed? What about support options?

n Are you selecting the type of software that your students will encounter (and need to be familiar with) in the business world?

n Can your software be used across many different devices and platforms that students might have at home?

DeCIDeSelect software that supports 1-to-1 learning


A decision to engage a supplier should not be made purely on price. The company you choose should have a vested interest in ensuring the program works, the devices are maintained and students have a reliable 1-to-1 learning experience.

Microsoft Certified Partners specialise in Microsoft technologies. They also meet strict accreditation requirements and are familiar with the requirements of schools. Microsoft Gold Certified Partners have a track record of proven deployments and will bring fresh insights and wisdom to your plan. They will work with you to help turn your vision into a successful 1-to-1 learning program.

When choosing laptops, list your selection criteria under mandatory, optional and preferred. Think carefully what you will be expecting students to do with their laptops as they move through the school. And don’t forget their expectations around performance, multimedia and gaming. Make sure that warranty and parts support are available at least for the expected life of the device, which is normally around three years.

Select devices that provide students with a reliable, flexible and long-term (three-year) option. Consider weight, wireless connectivity, ease of use, durability and reliability. Today’s bargain can be tomorrow’s expensive mistake. Look for a trusted brand with a widely supported operating system that is in use in the workforce.

n Is the device robust and light enough for students?

n Will the device offer sufficient speed and memory to run required applications?

n Is the laptop supported with enough spare parts and a guaranteed turnaround time?

n Can the supplier offer a suitable guaranteed turnaround time?

n What are the performance measurement criteria for your partnership with the supplier and how often will the partnership be reviewed?

Select laptops

Work with an experienced partner

Consider the collaboration and access frameworkChoosing your software and devices is only part of the equation. The most successful 1-to-1 programs also deploy an integrated IT infrastructure that:

• enables students, administrators and teachers anywhere to work productively and effectively

• Connects students and staff easily to printers, video, cameras, back-up devices and scanners

• Supports student and staff collaboration across videoconferencing, telephone, email and instant messaging

• Provides a secure and safe environment for students and staff

• Is easy to implement and cost-efficient to manage

Web portals that promote collaboration and information-sharing between students, teachers, parents, staff and administrators where each person gets an authorised view of relevant information are an essential component of 1-to-1 learning environments. The Microsoft Learning Gateway is a framework that enables you to connect diverse systems and devices across your school. Student portals can provide one-click access to resources, project groups, timetables, assessments and marking criteria. Parent portals can provide school news and student attendance and performance online. Administrative portals can provide quick access to student records and resource availability. Teachers can enter grades, attendance, comments, etc. as they work.


Need help with decisions?The Microsoft 1-to-1 learning Web site features a selection of resources to assist you including:

• Details of software and licensing options

• Information and case studies on deploying Web portals

• A list of Microsoft Certified and Gold Certified Partners who can assist you



Your budget needs to be detailed and accurate. Leverage specialist help from trusted suppliers such as a Microsoft Certified Partner, who can provide you with a detailed quotation for products and services. It’s a good idea to break down your budget into the following categories and make sure you identify one-off costs and annual expenses:

• Hardware

• Software

• Infrastructure improvements

• System maintenance and upgrading

• Telecommunications, power and storage

• Ongoing technical support for teachers and administrators

• Professional development

• Insurance and security costs

n Will parent contributions be required?

n Can you clearly articulate your reason for parental contributions?

n Is the funding model sustainable?

n Will you quote parents for additional costs such as USB drives, hard-cased school bags, spare power cables / batteries, etc?

BUDGETPrepare a detailed budget

It’s easy to budget for your software with the Microsoft School Agreement, a subscription licensing program specifically created to address the unique needs of Australian schools. With a low fixed rate per student, School Agreement makes it easy and affordable for you to license the software you need for 21st Century learning in your school. You can choose which applications you want for students and teachers and receive upgrades during the period of the agreement through Software Assurance.

Ownership & financing optionsMake sure you consider all possible options for receiving supplemental funds, such as parent contributions, government grants for items such as one-off infrastructure costs, and corporate or philanthropic support. If you are leveraging multiple sources of funding to support your initiative (parents, grants, business community, foundation, fund-raising, industry partnerships) make sure you provide an accurate and detailed total cost of participation to all stakeholders. It is advisable to provide a higher cost of participation than expected, to allow for contingencies, and then to adjust the cost down, if possible. The golden rule is to always under promise, then over deliver.

Many 1-to-1 learning initiatives see parent contributions as an ideal partnership to cover the cost of providing a computer to students to use for the 20 percent of time they are at school and the rest of the time spent at home. Parental contributions of 30-40 percent of the total budgeted costs, for example, are affordable and create a sustainable shared funding model for the program into the future.

The Microsoft School Agreement


Need help with budgeting?The Microsoft 1-to-1 learning Web site features a selection of resources to assist you including:

• Budget checklist



There are numerous policies that need to be considered and defined by your school before implementing a 1-to-1 program. Work with key stakeholders to prepare a handbook and determine how frequently your policies will be updated and how they will be enforced. The most common topics that need resolution are the following:

PREPARE

n What training will be provided to support teachers with their new laptop computers?

n How might your curriculum support eLearning?

n Have you developed a strong community of practice / mentors?

n What is your school’s ongoing professional development plan?

• Insurance

• Parental training

• Internet and network policy

• Data limit for downloading

• email policy

• Reporting lost or stolen laptops

• Chat, social networking and electronic games

• Personal software

• Battery charging / life

• Devices left at home

• Backup and data storage

• Virus protection and removal

• Storage

• Service and support

• Transport and school bags

• Printing

• Device model flexibility

Ideally, teachers should have laptop computers for a minimum of six months before students use them in class. A comprehensive professional development program can boost confidence, build competence and foster commitment among teachers.

Manage change carefully, in a sustained, ongoing campaign. Allow multiple pathways for teachers to build their professional knowledge, practice, values and relationships in making ICT integral to learning. Identify teacher champions to lead change. Build teams of teachers with complementary skills and levels of expertise. Building up coaching support for staff is the most sustainable way to extend innovative practice across a school. Create team incentives to foster high achievement. Consider how you will provide:

• Support for change resistant staff

• Incentives to ensure all staff members embrace change

• Flexibility to enable gradual and rapid change

Setting policies & procedures

Ensure teachers have laptops and professional development first

Professional developmentMicrosoft Partners in Learning (PiL) supports professional development and collaboration initiatives to help teachers gain the skills they need to integrate technology into the curriculum and create relevant, engaging learning experiences.

Every year we pay tribute to educational innovators with the Microsoft Innovative Teachers Award.

We also offer the Microsoft IT Academy providing schools with access to a curriculum and a certification path for students.


In a 1-to-1 ‘anytime, anywhere’ learning model, learning is no longer confined to the four walls of a traditional classroom. Instead, learning spaces are transformed to enable a new, more complete learning experience. Review current classroom configurations so that learning spaces are flexible, interesting, inspirational and cater to a range of learning styles and modalities.

n Do your learning spaces cater for different learning modalities?

n Are the spaces flexible and engaging? What do your students think of the design?

n Is your classroom a symbol of your educational philosophy?

n Are you confident you can answer most questions from parents?

n How will you address questions you don’t have answers to?

Preparing answers to anticipated questions will maximise your chances of gaining broad community support for your initiative. Also, it will demonstrate your school’s preparedness to move to a 1-to-1 program.

Review physical learning spaces

Addressing anticipated questions

Need help with preparation?The Microsoft 1-to-1 learning Web site features a selection of resources to assist you including:

• Sample learning space designs

• Frequently asked questions and answers

• Links to our Partners in Learning site www.microsoft.com.au/partnersinlearning to help you with professional development requirements



Ongoing evaluation is the key to a successful 1-to-1 learning program. It provides a clear understanding of where you are succeeding and where you could make improvements. It’s a good idea to establish an independent review committee and agree on how you will measure and report on success over time. Initially, you can expect to make adjustments to your program and to the way classes are managed and taught in order to create the outcomes you are looking for. However, don’t forget to celebrate the successes as they come along and remember, with a credible evaluation and feedback mechanism in place, you will have quantifiable evidence of success to counter any criticism from the education community.

Order laptops and prepare for deploymentBefore you can distribute laptops to students they will need imaging, testing and registering.These tasks can be time-consuming, so make sure you order devices early.

IMPLEMENT & REVIEWn How much time will

you allow for possible delays in delivery?

n Have you built a software image to ensure devices will be connected to Internet, printers and other peripherals?

n Have you established a distribution and management process to deploy and update software?

n Who will track serial numbers and register devices in the School Management System?

n Will students be required to have a certain school bag or laptop case before devices are distributed? Has it been approved by your insurance company?

n Will you provide student training immediately on deployment? Will you provide training for parents regarding the care and effective use of laptops at home and school?

n Will additional training (e.g. keyboard skills) be incorporated into curriculum in the initial stages of the program?

n Will laptops be sent home on distribution, or will there be a period of in-school training first?

n What provisions will be made for students entering or leaving the school mid-term?

n Will you choose to pilot the program with one year (e.g. Year 9)?

n Have you appointed an independent review committee?

How will you measure and report on success?

How will you celebrate success?

How will you support teachers to adjust to new methodologies?

Set up formal agreements with parents and guardians about students’ use of laptops. Manage the deployment very closely to ensure students receive the correct devices as per the signed agreements with their parents or guardians. Carefully consider the timing of the deployment to minimise disruptions to classroom practice and the functioning of each device.

Distribute student laptops

Review and evaluate


IMPLEMENT & REVIEW

AALF LOGO HERE

We focus on learning, not just technologySuccessful 1-to-1 learning programs are about much more than technology. They usually involve cultural change, new pedagogies, staff professional development and new ways of delivering and managing learning. All of which must be underpinned with an effective technical infrastructure and support system. Microsoft Partners listen to your needs and then work with you to develop a manageable ICT infrastructure that supports your school’s 1-to-1 vision.

We’re passionate about education Microsoft supports 1-to-1 learning with powerful desktop applications such as the Microsoft® Office system, Microsoft®

Office OneNote®, Microsoft® Photo Story, Microsoft® Student and Microsoft® Encarta®. These are complemented with solutions such as the Microsoft Learning Gateway, a framework which enables schools to create powerful student, staff and administration Web portals containing everything they need to work effectively, accessible via the Internet.

We offer affordable licensing and training optionsAll schools operate within strict budgets. That is why Microsoft is dedicated to offering affordable education licences to equip staff and students with effective tools for learning. Microsoft School Agreement includes an option specifically designed for 1-to-1 programs, giving you access to all the software your school needs for a 21st Century learning environment.

Students will use our software in the real worldMany staff and students are already familiar and competent with our software so when they tackle projects, they can focus on learning and exploring new ideas. They’re also familiarising themselves with the tools that they’ll encounter later on in the workplace.

A reliable platform that adapts to your needsThe Microsoft platform enables you to invest incrementally in order to achieve your education goals and then to scale easily as your needs evolve. The consistent standards, operating systems and application compatibility tools of the Microsoft platform also make IT environments more cost efficient to operate and manage, reducing IT costs.

Privacy and securityThe Microsoft platform builds security, identity and trust relationships into the layers of the computing environment, from hardware to software and services. This is designed to help protect your network from viruses and keep student and staff information confidential.

How does Microsoft make 1-to-1 learning effective?

Smart Classrooms is the registered trademark in Australia of the Queensland Government Department of Education, Training and the Arts. Microsoft, the Microsoft logo, Encarta, OneNote, Window Vista and Your potential. Our passion. are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. 12034-0708/MSau

Get started today!If you are planning a 1-to-1 learning program, talk to Microsoft first. With hundreds of reference sites and successful deployments around the world, we have both the experience and expertise to help your school select and deploy a cost-effective, proven solution that meets your needs today and tomorrow.

To find out more about 1-to-1 learning programs in schools and to download useful resources, checklists, PR documents and templates, visit: www.microsoft.com.au/1to1 or email: [email protected]

To find a Microsoft education Partner, visit: www.microsoft.com/australia/education/partner

We gratefully acknowledge the significant contribution of the Queensland Government Department of Education, Training and the Arts in developing this practical guide for schools, the content for which has been largely based on their Smart Classrooms® publication, 21 steps to 21st Century 1-to-1 success. For more information visit www.education.qld.gov.au/smartclassrooms

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