Lessons learned from 1-to-1 laptop initiatives: reflections on critical components

One to one computing initiatives raise questions for those considering incorporating the innovation into school-based approaches to new millennium learning. Early laptop programs entailed significant technological challenges and sometimes seemed to be more about marketing than education. Although the suitability of laptops for classroom applications has improved, the real issue continues to be not one of providing specific technologies but one of ensuring that learners and teachers can access and transform information as required. This panel will bring together educators who represent a variety of perspectives on one to one laptop initiatives, including those from Maine, Texas, and Kansas in the USA, and from Queensland and New South Wales in Australia. The panel presentations will conclude with a discussion of observations from handheld initiatives and a long-term view of 1-to-1 initiatives. These diverse views are offered to add richness to the debate over 1-to-1 computing in schools.