For the proposal I am creating for my school district I am suggesting that the school adopt a 1:1 personal learning device program for each student in the school district. The district currently only has this in place in two schools in the district, and I believe that the education if the students in this district would be transformed if a PLN was available for each student. So because the district does not have 1:1 for most of their schools, before beginning this transition, they will need to implement a few policies in order to protect themselves, the students and enhance the learning of the students in the most optimal way.
According to the K-12 blueprint, new policies should focus on new technology, and not limit students to older types of technology. They should also not focus on banning certain sites of activities and not try to anticipate certain problems. Policies should in stead be learner centered, promote responsible use and meet state regulations (K-12 Blueprint). Jennifer Jenson also mentioned over and over in the article “Tips for Creating Technology Policies for K-12” that policy makers have to let go of their control and their fears and put their trust in the hands of the students. Rather teach them what it means to be a responsible and safe user of technology, than instead of just blocking numerous sites and never give them the opportunity to demonstrate and learn responsibility.
It is also important to ensure that the policies one creates promote student centered learning, research and innovation, professional learning, leadership and access, infrastructure and digital learning environments (Alberta Government).
It is with all these things in mind, and the help from some sample policies, that I have created the few following policies that I believe my school district would benefit from.
– Students who participate in the 1:1 program at HCPS will be required to sign and follow an Acceptable Use Contract which will ensure that the program remains true to its mission which is to enhance and enrich the education of students. Students new to the program will take a course on how to be a responsible digital citizen. The course will be refreshed annually at the beginning of each school year.
– Students will use their personal learning device to enrich their own education while in school. They will use their PLN in the way that will best benefit their education in relation to assigned curriculums and state standards, as directed by their teacher.
– Teacher will be competent with all devices that are available for students use as PLNs and will receive adequate training on commonly used programs.
I am still very new at writing these policies and it was more challenging than I anticipated. They probably still need some work and revision, but I think the three I have written above are a good start.
While doing research for this, I found a video that explains digital leadership really well, and issue that concerns most of us. There are also a lost of student resources and teacher resources about digital citizenship on this site!
burns12 
I like the fact that this type of policy shouldn’t focus on banning sites. I think it is necessary that we teach kids responsibility when it comes to certain sites and that there are certain things you do at work and things you don’t do. Banning them isn’t going to teach them, in my mind it’s going to make them want to be on them at work when they do have access to them because they have more freedom. My college decided to ban facebook for a time, I guess because we weren’t allowed to be adults, but we figured out how to get around all the access blocks and get to it anyways, I feel like the same is true for blocking sites at school, they’d figure out how to get on them. I think teaching responsibility with technology is key to our student’s education and to help them prepare for the future.
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For sure the whole “digital citizenship” comes in to play. This past year, I had a student in my class who played baseball. He was out at games against my son at the beginning, then he wasn’t around so much. One of the coach’s wives mentioned that he had been gone from the past several games, hadn’t been coming to practice, had just fallen away from the team. When I asked my student, he responded that he had been at flag football practice. I started to go into “coach” mode and begin discussing commitment to a team, even when involved in something else…the priority is the thing you signed up for first, has a game, not a practice. He looked at me like I’d grown another eyeball or something. This was completely foreign to him. We need to expect the same when applied to responsible/acceptable use of technology.
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An important part of incorporating technology into our classrooms is teaching student internet safety and how to be responsible digital citizents. I like the idea of having students complete a digital citizen course.
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Thanks! 🙂
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You have an excellent idea with your 1 to 1 initiative. If your school can make this work, your students are in for a tremendous benefit. Focusing on responsible use is definitely a better idea than focusing on things students shouldn’t do. It’s always better to focus on positive reinforcement. It empowers students to take responsibility for their education. Requiring students to sign a contract will add a level of accountability as will the requirement for an annual refresher. You have obviously put a lot of effort into this proposal. I hope you can make it work.
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I love the 1 to 1 plan. This is how it should be. I really like the fact that teachers need to know the equipment, which means real PD’s for teachers, useful things for the classroom. The next big thing is the digital citizenship for students. This is something that is overlooked and always needs to be addressed. I think you have a great idea and are off to a great start.
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