What We’re Reading: 1:1 rollout tools

A parent presentation video, visit a model Chromebook school, and 1:1 consulting options

With Fair Haven Union High School, the Leyden 1:1 Chromebooks program and a special guest from across the border…

Fair Haven Union High School, in Rutland County, Vermont, is going 1:1 with iPads for the 2014-2015 school year, and they’ve been kind enough to post their parent presentation video online. It’s an appealing and engagingly constructed way of communicating with families about expectations and responsibilities. Thank you to Bjorn Behrendt for sharing this.

 

Unexpected travel opportunities

Leyden High School District 212 went 1:1 with Chromebooks in the 2012-2013 school year, and were chosen as a pilot testing area for Google’s Play for Edu suite. They’re currently accepting reservations from educators to go out and visit their successful high school. There’s a $25 registration fee and they can only accept the first 50 educators who sign up. Two visiting slot: October 23 (which is right around the corner) and February 15, which gives you a little more time to plan your road trip.

Check out their agenda for the visits. If you’re considering going 1:1 with Chromebooks, it’s hard to argue with getting a sneak peek at a school already making it work.

Come talk to the Tarrant Institute

One of the most helpful 1:1 rollout tools is hearing from folks who’ve already been there. Amanda Yates, techie extraordinaire, lately of White River Junction, has hopped over the border to New Hampshire, where she’s the co-principal at a school in Hanover. This summer she and the rest of the leadership team swung by the Tarrant Institute world headquarters to get some feedback from our leadership team on a 1:1 rollout. She blogged about the experience here:

We spent two hours sharing our experience last year with our iPad 1:1 in the 8th grade, the successes, the challenges, and our hopes for this year.  As I am new to RMS, and didn’t experience the 1:1 last year, getting a chance to dig into the details of the program was so helpful.  I was able to gain a sense of where I, as an administrator with Mike, can offer support this year.

Below are a few notes that I took that Marty, Mike and I will discuss when we debrief next week.

I definitely recommend following her blog.

And by the way, if a 1:1 consult could help out your plans for a rollout, don’t be shy about asking. We love to help! Here’s a video produced by Tarrant Institute associate director John Downes, with advice about moving into and beyond a 1:1 program.