One-to-one computing hasn’t been an approach that many districts use simply because its cost can be hard for schools to manage. Recently, a West Virginia state Schools Superintendent pointed out that it might be worth it for WV students.

“In a short speech to state and local education officials, business leaders and others at the third annual West Virginia Education Summit, state Schools Superintendent Michael Martirano said one-to-one computing initiatives, which have led to controversy in other states over issues including cost and computers’ perceived added learning distractions, could help decrease educational inequities among students,” according to the Charleston Gazette-Mail.

Martirano also put forth an initiative to ensure that WV students in grades 3-12 have their own technological device by 2020. The move opens up a debate over what the right approach to technology in the classroom should be. Numerous schools across the country are moving towards technological techniques like “smart learning,” that imputes analytics and data into student learning, as well as a plethora of other approaches.

The one-to-one approach is more than techniques. It’s about budgeting and for some schools not biting off more than they can chew financially.

“Mike Green, president of the State Board of Education said 18 out of 55 West Virginia counties have one-to-one computing programs of some sort; some may not have them county-wide,” according to the report.

“Martirano said Kanawha and Wirt counties are the two main drivers of one-to-one computing in the state. Kanawha County, the state’s largest school system, distributed more than 14,000 iPad tablet computers to every middle and high school student in the county last school year through the roughly $14 million Learning 20/20 initiative, said Leah Sparks, Kanawha’s technology director.”

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Article by Navindra Persaud, Education World Contributor.