Technology
Teacher Professional Development for Effective 1:1 Chromebook Classrooms
Quick fact
In a landmark study of 1:1 computing programs, researchers found that when professional development focused only on device operations (e.g., how to use Google Classroom), teachers continued to use the Chromebooks for substitution-level tasks like typing notes, yielding no significant gains in student achievement. In contrast, PD that emphasized pedagogical strategies and ongoing coaching led to a 24 percentile point increase in problem-solving skills.
Why this is interesting
You've just received a cart of Chromebooks for every student. But without the right professional development, will they actually change how your students learn—or just become expensive notebooks? Why do so many 1:1 initiatives fail to improve outcomes?