Tuesday, March 26
10:15-10:35 AM
CDT
Grand Ballroom B

Advantages and Challenges of 1-1 laptop projects: the case of 23 Canadian schools in underprivileged contexts

Brief Paper ID: 38411
  1. aaa
    Thierry Karsenti
    University of Montreal
  2. aaa
    Simon Collin
    University of Quebec in Montreal
  3. Gabriel Dumouchel
    University of Montreal
  4. Ariane Dupuis
    University of Montreal

Abstract: The overall goal of this study was to better understand of the advantages and challenges of using laptops in 23 Canadian primary and secondary schools located in underprivileged contexts. In all, more than 2400 students (grades 3 to 11), 272 teachers, 14 education support staff and three school principals participated in the data collection. Three main data collection instruments were used: survey questionnaires, individual semi-directed interviews, and group interviews. Overall, the data collected highlights 12 main benefits of using laptops as well as four major challenges. The preliminary results of this study indicate that the ‘one laptop per child’ strategy fully contributes to students’ academic success at the participating schools, even in underprivileged contexts. The lesson retained is that, despite the technical and pedagogical challenges, this innovative initiative to provide ‘one laptop per child’ in underprivileged contexts has produced incontestable gains in both teaching and learning, and for the future social and professional lives of the students involved.

Presider: Nanci Burk, Glendale Community College

Topics

Conference attendees are able to comment on papers, view the full text and slides, and attend live presentations. If you are an attendee, please login to get full access.
x