So you want to go 1:1 in your school district.   Seems simple enough--especially if you start with "everyone can bring their own device," right?  Before you go speeding down the super highway of good intentions, take some time to ensure that everyone is on board with a vision for how the technology will be used to support learning.  Once you begin implementation, there will be plenty of bumps in the road. If you don't have a clear view of where you are going, it will be easy to lose passengers along the way.

Through my work as a technology director, a school improvement coach, and a community member of a technology planning team, I've learned a few things about what works (and what doesn't) when you are implementing a large-scale technology initiative.  Here are some things to keep in mind:

Convene a representative planning team.  Involve teachers, parents, students, administrators, and staff from every building in your school district.  Make sure that each grade level is represented.  Seek support from stakeholders in the community.  Let everyone have a voice.  The more inclusive your planning effort, the more committed your team will be during deployment.

Make it easy for people to get involved.  Schedule meetings/open forums when parents and community members can be present. Use a technology tool such as Google Groups to enable online discussion and planning.  Create shareable documents that allow stakeholders to give input anytime, anywhere.  (Google Docs  is a great place to create shareable documents that you can open with a link that is shared with a specific group of people.)

Learn from districts that have been down this path -- especially those that have similar student populations and needs.  Visit schools and classrooms.  Ask lots of questions.  Find out what they would do differently if they could do it all over again.  

Don't expect a one-size-fits-all solution.  Just because you can get a great deal on ________ (fill in the blank) doesn't mean that the computing device is the right solution for every learner, at every level, in your district.  Likewise, be wary of any software publisher who claims to have the perfect K-12 curriculum.  Listen to the voices of grade-level experts to get the best fit for students. Listen to your students.  What programs/career paths do they want?

Invest in professional development.  You shouldn't wait until all the student computers are deployed to begin professional development.  The most effective PD is conducted in small groups and targeted to specific needs.  Coaching models, which provide classroom support and regular follow-up, work best.  Provide incentives for teachers to focus on technology in professional learning community (PLC) meetings and to set personal learning goals that focus on instructional technology. 

Consider Total Cost of Ownership.  Total cost of ownership (TCO) is a methodology that allows school leaders to assess the total cost of acquiring and maintaining networks, computers, devices, and IT staff.  It helps districts to budget for equipment replacement and repair and to avoid unexpected expenses.  

Keep the technology plan alive.  Revisit the plan frequently and make adjustments if something isn't working the way it was intended to work.  In a "systems" approach, input from PLCs ("What's working for our students?  What isn't working?") is invaluable feedback for improving implementation efforts.

Additional Resources

The Epic BYOD Toolbox - Edutopia blogger Vicki Davis shares her top picks for tools that allow students to create and construct in 1:1 classrooms.

Sharing the Screen in a 1:1 Classroom - Monica Burns talks about sharing the screen in different learning configurations (partners, small group collaborations, and whole group) and recommends tools that work well in each setting.

Myth vs. Reality in a 1:1 Classroom - a great blog post to reassure those who worry about moving too fast or losing sight of what's really important (learning).

K-12 Blueprint - a planning resource for getting started with a 1:1 initiative (focus on technology vision and instructional approaches).

The K-12 Computing Blueprint - This 16-page guide, developed by Intel, provides a comprehensive overview of the key considerations for planning a 1:1 initiative.