The notion of one-to-one (a ratio of at least one computing device for
each student) was coined by Elliot Soloway and Cathie Norris. In their
keynotes addressed in IEEE International Workshop on Wireless and Mobile
Technologies in Education and International Conference on Intelligent Tutoring Systems they argued that today’s “personal computer” is not personal to a student in a school: the student most often has to share with others in a computer lab. They further pointed out that when everyone was able to afford a pencil, it changed how one learned. Similarly, when everyone could own a book, instead of sharing with others, it again changed how people learned. A similar change can happen if everyone owns and regularly uses a personal computing device. As used in this paper, one-to-one TEL means that a student uses at least one computing device for learning. In some cases, a student may use more than one computing device or use a computing device together with some equipment in which there are some embedded micro-processors. We should take note that, in tens of years, when every student may already own a computing device as an indispensable tool for learning, the term one-to-one may not have meaning. The role of personal technology may become so seamless as to become invisible.
SMART Collaborative 