When you hear about the ambitious technology initatives at Irving Independent School District in Texas—including an 11-year-old, one-to-one program and a “net zero” middle school—you might think it’s a wealthy district. But you’d be mistaken; in fact, a full 82 percent of Irving ISD’s students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch.
Irving ISD launched its one-to-one program in 2001, determined to provide a technology-rich learning experience for its student body, many of whom would never be exposed to technology otherwise. The district started giving out laptops at one high school and added a grade level each year. Along the way, administrators learned some important lessons about one-to-one implementations. |
