Ubiquitous Computing 

Four ICS staff members went to Mumbai, India, recently to attend a conference for international schools on “1-to-1 laptop programs.” These programs, which have been around for twenty years and are implemented in thousands of schools around the world, have each student carry and use a portable computer (a laptop, tablet or netbook) in all classes and at home.

Research has shown that such programs can enrich student learning through accessing the vast repositories of information on the internet, communicating with people around the world including peers and experts, and accessing and creating multimedia projects to engage different types of intelligences. Students in schools that run such programs often show greater interest in school and enthusiasm for learning, have fewer problems with attendance or turning in assignments, and often score higher on standardized tests of reading, writing, mathematical skills and more.

ICS is beginning such a program, and we will begin to implement a 1-to-1 learning environment for the secondary (grades 6-12) beginning next school year. This is an exciting development for ICS, and we will be one of the first international schools in Africa to implement a 1-to-1 program. In Mumbai, we saw many examples of excellent teaching and learning using computers, and the team that attended the conference is sharing their experiences with other teachers. We will also be sharing with the rest of the community – through Yezare Samint and other venues. Any parents who want to know more individually are very welcome to contact me at john.iglar(at)icsaddis.edu.et.