e-to-One
6Questions to Consider before Implementing a
Portable Learning Initiative at Your School or District
can manage, as well as which system your teachers feel most
comfortable using. The Windows/Mac operating system is
the dominant paradigm in K–12 in the United States; therefore, many teachers already have some familiarity with Windows and Mac software, alleviating the need for professional
development at the introductory level. A similar familiarity
exists for technology facilitators and technicians who must
support these devices. Support personnel already have existing competencies in the Windows or Mac platforms. It
is expected that over the next few years, more open source
operating systems, such as Linux, will become a competitive
choice for end-user devices.
Applications. Do you want to install local applications,
use Web applications, or both? Many are transitioning
to delivery via the Web; however, many still are delivered
through a traditional install to the local computer hard
drive using a CD. Ultraportables have limited drive space,
so make sure to select a device that’s able to deliver the
required applications. Traditionally, applications installed
locally provide access to content and collaboration functionality, but many content and collaboration services are
transitioning to a Web-delivered model for simplicity and
machine-independent access.
Content. Do you want to install local content (files, data,
documents, presentations, and images) onto the device’s
hard drive, use Web content, or both? Similar to the Web-based applications movement, content was traditionally
installed on the local computer, but more and more content is being stored on the Web. Ultraportables have limited drive space, so make sure to select a device capable of
saving and storing the required content.
Peripheral equipment. Will you be using peripheral equipment, such as probes, microscopes, GPS units, digital
cameras, printers, or projectors? At their heart, both state
and national curriculum/technology recommendations,
such as the Partnership for 21st-Century Skills and ISTE’s
NETS, place significant emphasis on rich content, collaboration, and peripheral equipment, all as vehicles to develop
21st-century skills in students. If you want to connect your
device to peripherals, the main issues are availability, identification, and installation of compatible peripheral equipment drivers for the selected device. Consider a device’s
compatibility with probeware, printer, and projector needs
and capabilities. Not all ultraportables without Windows
have drivers compatible with these types of peripherals.
Robustness. What can you do to protect the computing device from the regular wear and tear of everyday use by students and staff? Other considerations related to protecting
your device from regular daily classroom use are durability
ratings, design of special carrying cases, battery life, virus
protection software, and school- and district-level policies
that carefully outline specific policies and recommendations for staff, students, and parents about acceptable use
and storage for the computing device.
Additional considerations. The Consortium of School
Networking (CoSN) is a national leader in identifying and
evaluating effective use of technology within K–12 environments. One of CoSN’s contributions is a clear articulation of the real cost of technology in the classroom through
a rigorous total cost of ownership (TCO) methodology
developed in partnership with the Gartner Group. CoSN
identifies TCO in the book A School Administrator’s Guide
to Planning for the Total Cost of New Technology as the sum
of the following expenses:
• Device: the initial purchase cost of a device
including insurance, with no server backend
• Support: after devices are purchased, a school district
will need people to help maintain the hardware and to
help users solve the problems they encounter with their
devices and software packages
4Do you want to install local
content, use Web content, or both?
5Will you be using peripheral equipment? 6What can you do to protect the computing
device from the regular wear and tear of
everyday use by students and staff?
