Digital technology in education can be significantly effective when each student has the same access to a digital device that they can call their own. The types of programmes that facilitate this are known as 1:2:1 programmes.
When students have access to personal digital devices via 1:1 programmes, it can improve learning outcomes, enhance teaching pedagogy, equalise learning opportunities for all students, and imbue students with lifelong skills that will empower them in their careers.
But what might this look like in real terms? Here, we look at some tangible ways in which 1:1 technology helps educators.
Support for Teachers and Classrooms
What is emerging technology in education if not an aid to teaching? 1:1 technology supplements teaching pedagogy rather than supplanting it. It can support and enhance a diverse range of teaching strategies designed to promote active learning.
These include flipped classrooms, where students are encouraged to seek materials to complete assignments outside the classroom. 1:2:1 Technology also lends itself well to blended learning, which combines traditional classroom-based activities with online activities that students can complete in their own time.
1:2:1 technology can also make the process of teaching easier and more responsive for teachers, empowering them with digital tools to enhance lesson plans, provide real-time assessment of students' learning, and provide immediate feedback to enhance the learning experience.
Improved Academic Performance
A growing body of academic evidence suggests that 1:2:1 devices in schools can improve learning outcomes and academic skills.
The interactive nature of 1:2:1 devices and the personalised learning environment that they create are highly conducive to the process of active learning. Moreover, a 2024 study showed that students' writing skills were improved, and they found the process of writing more enjoyable when working on a laptop when compared to writing by hand.
Enhanced Student Engagement
Students can often become disengaged when they are not allowed an opportunity to actively participate in lessons, or they feel as though the lesson is moving at a rate at which they cannot keep up.
1:2:1 technology gives students much more ownership of their learning and helps them engage with their learning on a deeper and more meaningful level.
When students use laptops, tablets and other devices, their learning is, by definition, interactive. Personal devices enable students to personalise the appearance and interface of their devices and learn in their own way at their own pace.
This can improve students' participation and engagement, exploring subjects meaningfully and actively.
Preparation for Future Success
In an increasingly digitised age, digital literacy is increasingly essential for young people. The active use of technology in the classroom helps students to better develop the digital skills that they will use for the rest of their lives. This ensures that they are well-prepared for both higher education and the realities of tomorrow's workplace.
To find out more about the different options we have to facilitate school devices and 1:2:1 programmes, get in touch with our Easy4u team today!
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