Top 4 reasons why 1:1 programs fail NEO BLOG

There is among K-12 schools a veritable on-rush to put a device in the hands of every student; a laudable and necessary ambition. However, while there are certainly successes, very many teachers and superintendents report that 1:1 programs are not correctly integrated, that the necessary training is not available, and that the focus is very much more on the "device" than what the device can do in terms of enhanced learning opportunities and outcomes. A 2015 study by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development found that unless students achieve recognized base-lines of proficiency in reading and numeracy/math prior to engaging in a 1:1 program the results are negligible. They also found that although a vast majority of students, from across all social backgrounds, have access to computers, the pre-existing gaps between advantaged and disadvantaged students are not immediately or thoroughly addressed by the simple provision of technology. Which helps us conclude that technology is not "the silver bullet" that will immediately create equitable educational outcomes.