One-To-One Initiative Implementation from Insiders’ Perspectives

This study examined how one-to-one initiatives were conducted in rural public K-12 educational settings in a mid-western US state. Research data were gathered from interview responses from 15 school personnel who were either educational technology directors or school principals at 15 rural public K-12 schools. The study found that when schools decided to embrace one-to-one initiatives, decisions were often made by committees with limited membership and cost was frequently and/or primarily the committees’ major consideration. In addition to cost, device management, durability, and ease of use were factors that school committees were interested in, when selecting devices. Two notable discrepancies cited that should be addressed by committees considering implementing one-to-one initiative are: 1. Not preparing teachers and administrators to effectively use those devices prior to the implementation of the initiative. 2. Not evaluating the instructional effectiveness and learning gains after the implementation of the initiative.