IMPACTFUL STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES OF ONE-TO-ONE ...

1Chapter One: Purpose of the StudyStatement of the ProblemIn recent years, schools across the country have implemented immersivetechnology education initiatives called one-to-one student laptop programs. In one-tostudentlaptop programs, schools provide each of their students with an Internet enabledlaptop computer for use at school and at home. These programs offer students not onlyaccess to computers and the Internet, but also the promise of technology infusedcurriculum and ubiquitous access to digitized learning materials. However, since laptopprograms are logistically complex and equipment intensive, they often requireconsiderable resources and personnel to implement and maintain. As a result, a majorityof one-to-one student laptop programs are found at public and private schools that serveaffluent communities. This has created a situation where affluent students are realizingthe benefits of ubiquitous access to technology while their low socioeconomic status(SES) peers are not. Such disproportionate access to laptop programs has replicated theEducational Digital Divide, thus denying low SES students, their families, and theircommunities access to the educational and social benefits of ubiquitous computing.While this suggests that laptop programs should be established in low SESschools, mere implementation is insufficient. For these programs to be beneficial andsustainable, their pedagogic foundation needs to be grounded in student learning that hasthe greatest potential impact on low SES students and their communities. Further, thispedagogy must be based on reasonable and attainable student learning outcomes if it is to