1:1 works. In those classrooms and schools where each and every child has a computer equipped with task-appropriate software, and teachers, IT staff, and administrators are adequately prepared, then increases in student motivation and achievement are observed. No surprise: just as in every other venue, from accounting to scientific research, when technology is ubiquitous and provides task-appropriate support, significant productivity increases are realized. For elementary and secondary education, then, the only pressing question is “how do we scale up 1:1” so all children can benefit?

In the U.S. laptop computers were once seen as the way to realize 1:1. While Maine’s Governor Angus King spearheaded Maine’s 1:1 Laptop Initiative in 2002, he has publicly stated (April 25, 2005) that laptops are too expensive and lower-priced alternatives are needed in order to truly scale 1:1. Fortunately, a broad range of “sublaptops” -- from small screen palmtops to 7” screen notepads – are emerging that can do 80% of what a laptop can do at 10-20% of the TCO (total cost of ownership). Thus, after spending considerable sums to build its computing infrastructure, with 2-3 computers per room, a computer lab (or two), as well as wired and wireless networking, a school can now spend a relatively small amount of money to fill out that infrastructure and provide each and every child with their own, small mobile, networked, computer to use for all learning activities and for their own personal activities as well.

Why is it so important that task-appropriate technology be put, literally, into the hands of each and every child? There are two reasons. First, the children coming up these days are truly digital aged children; with wires wrapped around their heads, batteries stacked in mounds on their desks at home, and cell phones veritably glued to their ears they see technology as important. Therefore, if we are going to reach the “kids these days” we need to employ for learning that which they value in their everyday lives: technology. Second, instant on, instant off, easy-to-learn, easy-to-use sublaptop technologies become ePaper and ePencil and enable the digital kids to satisfy that very deep need we all have to express ourselves. While the digital kids find paper and pencil boring and unsatisfying, ePaper and ePencil afford truly new opportunities for reading, writing, collaborating, and researching.

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