Connectedness

Failures is failures only if we don't learn from it. We can learn from the failures of implementations of 1:1 and BYOD initiatives. The latest tech will not solve "difficult" education challenges; it will not automatically transform the school culture. Technology alone will not decrease the achievement gap, nor will it help students that come from low social economic status; Tittle I schools will not become successful just because they have 3 different computer labs. The complexity of the challenges that schools are working with are not easily solve by technology alone.
The article, "A Culture of Innovation" by Pautz (2015) tells the successful story of two schools that implemented the 1:1 initiative.  The journey of these two schools can be linked to NETS A standard 1 visionary leadership. The school leaders inspired and led the implementation of a shared vision for the integration of technology to promote excellence in teaching and learning. The leaders focused on 21st century skills of collaboration, critical thinking, and innovation. The leaders had high expectations for student learning, build teacher capacity, improved instruction, community involvement, and student voice. Teachers and administrators had to relinquish some control to nurture a creative environment. Teacher were encouraged to take risk and become "artist of pedagogy". Teacher collaboration was effectively used. Teachers shared their success stories with other teachers and thus became teacher leaders in the school.  Instruction was student centered, that enabled small group instruction. All these changes laid the foundation for a successful implementation of the 1:1 initiative.

The lesson learned from these two schools are: change begins with the principal, technology usage needs to be strategically planned (vision/mission), instruction can be improved by effective use of technology  and focus on innovation.