At European level, European Schoolnet, in cooperation with Acer, is involved in a netbook initiative, which started early in 2010. The Acer-European Schoolnet Educational Netbook Pilot is aimed at understanding and documenting how learners and teachers can use netbooks in various educational contexts. The aim is to explore how the introduction of netbooks and one-to-one pedagogy in schools could change teaching and learning processes. Until June 2010 the pre-pilot will involve 10 classes in 6 countries (UK, France, Germany, Spain, Italy and Turkey), while the full deployment phase will run from September 2010 to June 2011 involving 50 classes in each country.
A new (draft) report Netbooks on the rise: European overview of national laptop and netbook initiatives in schools will shortly be published on Insight. The report was drafted on the basis of the information provided by Ministries in the Country Reports and the first results were presented during the eSkills week. Also European Schoolnet, in cooperation with Acer, is involved in a netbook initiative, the Acer-European Schoolnet Educational Netbook Pilot, started early in 2010.
Abstract of the report:
The introduction and implementation of ICT in schools over the last ten years has mainly happened in three stages. First, computers were introduced in separate computer labs and used to teach ICT as a subject or for other subject-related purposes. Following this, computers were rolled out more and more in classrooms and in other parts of the school (e.g. libraries, computer corners) to ensure their integrated use and to reduce computer per pupil ratios considerably. In a third step, with emerging technologies, such as interactive whiteboards, handheld devices and netbooks, which are lighter, smaller and more affordable, ICT integration now focuses on using these tools to modernise classrooms and education systems.
Based on the belief that ownership of devices is highly motivating for students and also for teachers, the latest national ICT initiatives increasingly focus on 1:1 initiatives by providing personal notebooks and netbooks to students, teachers and families. Even though laptops are not a new phenomenon in educational settings, several European countries have started in the last years to invest further in low-cost computer devices, and netbook initiatives are developing more and more in schools and in other educational contexts.
Moreover, at European level, European Schoolnet, in cooperation with Acer, is involved in a netbook initiative, which started early in 2010. The Acer-European Schoolnet Educational Netbook Pilot is aimed at understanding and documenting how learners and teachers can use netbooks in various educational contexts. The aim is to explore how the introduction of netbooks and one-to-one pedagogy in schools could change teaching and learning processes. Until June 2010 the pre-pilot will involve 10 classes in 6 countries (UK, France, Germany, Spain, Italy and Turkey), while the full deployment phase will run from September 2010 to June 2011 involving 50 classes in each country.
In the framework of increased interest and investment in this field at national, European and international level, the paper aims to give a general overview on laptop/notebook/netbook initiatives in a number of European countries. 30 initiatives were identified in 14 countries based on information provided by Ministries of Education in the Insight country reports on ICT in education [http://insight.eun.org] and through desk research. These countries include Austria, Czech Republic, Estonia, France, Germany, Hungary, Portugal, Spain, and UK, Greece, Israel, Malta and Poland.
The report is structured in two main parts: firstly, it looks at the scope of the initiatives in terms of the main target groups and number of actors involved. This first part of the report also analyses the focus and aims of large scale ICT initiatives providing laptops or notebooks for schools and 1:1 initiatives. In the second part, the report considers the organisational framework including ownership, stakeholders and conditions and incentives for participation. The report also contains two tables, an overview of all the initiatives and an overview of target groups and initiators, which can be found here below.
For more information:
Table overview of initiatives
Download file
Table overview of target groups and initiators
Download file
The final report will be published soon on Insight.