Planning, Preparing, and Implementing a One-to-One Computing Initiative in K-12 Education: A Case Study of a School Division's Journey Toward a One-to-One Computing Environment for Students and Staff

One-to-one computing initiatives are becoming a part of many school divisions across the United States as district leadership analyzes ways to improve student learning and create 21st century learning spaces. Studying how school divisions planned, prepared, implemented and sustained a one-to-one computing initiative is an important step that school leaders must do in order to help foster learning environments that promote critical thinking, collaboration, communication and creativity.

The research presented in this paper came from a case study conducted on City School District (CSD), a kindergarten through twelfth (K-12) grade school system that implemented a one-one computing initiative for all students. A detailed analysis of archived meeting minutes, surveys, questionnaires, classroom observations, student assessments and interviews helped answer research questions that focused on the planning, implementation, and plans for sustaining the one-to-one computing initiative.

The one-to-one computing initiative for CSD started with a vision created by the superintendent of schools that focused on developing an individualized education plan for all students. The vision eventually became the vision for the entire school division during the digital conversion. School leaders can use the studies' findings and recommendations to help guide them through the implementation of a one-to-one computing initiative.