1:1 transforming education

What would you say are the three biggest benefits of implementing 1:1 tablet schemes in schools?

The overarching benefit that 1:1 device schemes create is independence, which is becoming one of the most important aspects of education to teachers and pupils alike.

The majority of the 1:1 schemes that Stone Group is involved with provide an element of device choice, which creates a feeling of independence and personalisation. This instils confidence with the technology and pride in the responsibility for it.

1:1 schemes also create location independence by allowing location independent learning – any environment can become a classroom. This represents such a big leap forward for lessons. A class is not tied to a certain room in the school for their learning; they can go ‘on location’ for subjects where seeing will add to the experience, such as geography or history. The use of technologies such as Augmented Reality (AR) on tablet devices in these situations is also transforming education.

We also feel that 1:1 schemes encourage schools to really think independently about their technology estates and choose devices that are the most suitable for their needs. There’s so much more freedom to add value to education with one to one provisioning, as specific student and teacher requirements can be met due to the flexibility of what’s available individually.

When choosing the tablet model, are schools considering all the options available to them, or are they simply opting for the most popular? Do you think there is enough variety?

There’s certainly enough variety – in fact many schools find it hard to choose the right device because there are so many choices to be made. The tough decisions are around offering a device that is best for the school, the pupil, the budget and the tasks it needs to do, whilst fulfilling the imagined desires of a technology and consumer tech savvy school-age child.

The right answer to tablet provision is not always the most popular brand outside school. In fact, opting for the most popular tablet brand can be a short-sighted decision.

Can every school realistically implement 1:1 tablet schemes, and do you think they will become a permanent fixture in our schools? 

Absolutely, every school can implement a 1:1 device scheme. However, not every school will be successful unless they have three key steps in place – the support of the parents, the support of the school’s administrative and governing structure and a strong Senior Leadership Team with a clear vision. To become a successful, permanent fixture, a scheme needs to have policies and procedures in place that have been agreed and a chain of responsibility set in place. The devices themselves are the least likely failure points.

Daley Robinson, Marketing Director Stone Group
W: www.stonegroup.co.uk