Current Projects

One-to-One Teacher Laptop Initiative

Purpose:
What are the teaching practices of a 21st century teacher? 

This project seeks to determine the impact of teacher laptops and technology resources on the changing role of the teacher. What is the impact on teacher practice when one to one computing technology is introduced to teachers in a school?

The project will increase access to learning opportunities for teachers, students and others within the CBE with (i) increased access to technology and (ii) professional learning opportunities. It is believed these interventions will help teachers become better able to adapt their teaching strategies to the different learning styles of their students.

Teachers will have the ability to access interactive educational resources and develop new learning communities for students and colleagues to share information and acquire new knowledge. In addition, this project will investigate how assessment changes if teaching practice changes.

This project is designed to examine the potential for creating technology enhanced environments for teachers and students through the use of one to one teacher laptops.

Participants

The participants for this project will include all teachers within the Calgary Board of Education. The laptops will be rolled out in four phases as follows:

  • Phase 1
    • Selected schools will have submitted proposals based on the following requirements:
    • Whole school initiative
    • Interest in improving student success
    • Measurable outcomes that are in line with School Development Plans
    • Teachers and administrators interested and engaged in the pilot.
    • Teachers and administrators in support of collecting and sharing data emerging from assessments.
    • Schools in support of gathering, compiling and submitting data for analysis based on the research protocol
    • Participating teachers interested in participating in professional learning opportunities
    • Planning committee interested in participating in identified planning and review meetings.
    • Wireless LAN implemented in school
    • During this phase participating teachers and administrators will:
    • Have access to timely and appropriate professional learning opportunities and software training to successfully use the technology
    • Have access to a variety of resources
    • Have access to internal technical support within each school to support this project (through ITS)
  • Phase 2, 3 and 4
    • Interested schools will submit proposals as above
    • Implementation of laptops in remaining schools over three years
    • Continued support from ILS, ITS, PC Corp, Microsoft Canada and Apple Canada

Research Questions

  • How does the introduction of a one to one teacher laptops initiative impact and or enhance teaching and learning within project CBE schools?
  • What is the impact of one to one computing on teacher practice and organizational effectiveness?

Specifically:

  • What does the teaching and learning environment look like when teachers have access to one to one technology?
  • What strategies do teachers adopt to gain skills required to utilize laptops in their practice?

Procedures

Pre and Post Focus Group interviews with teachers, teacher leaders, and administration

  • Generate and analyze anticipated and perceived successes and challenges of using teacher laptops;
  • Gather perceptions of the impact of using laptops on student learning and on their role as teachers
  • Gather baseline information from teachers on competency and ease of computer use.

Pre/post teacher, teacher leader, and administration surveys

  • Determine perceptions of teachers regarding their comfort and ability with laptops to enhance learning and teaching
  • Determine teachers' familiarity with the use of computer applications in the classroom to enhance student learning and achievement 

Teachers, teacher leaders, and administrators documenting reflections and observations and impacts on professional practice regarding:

  • The use and integration of this technology into classroom practice
  • The use and integration of this technology into administrative practice
  • In relation to changes in teaching practice, determine changes in assessment strategies

Timeline

January '07 - June '11

Outcomes

TBA