The education world was set abuzz after eSchool News published an article profiling studies which found one-to-one computing programs are only as effective as their teachers. Bloggers, commentators and journalist were not shocked by the findings but rather that it took so long for people to realize the truth - the success or the failure of one-to-one programs rests heavily on teachers. Jennifer Donnalley, Upper School mathematics teacher at Greenwich Country Day School, knows this all too well. More than ten years ago GCDS implemented a one-to-one laptop program, and while it was mildly successful, many teachers knew it could be better.

Donnalley said: "If you asked us ten years ago whether we wanted this program, we probably would have said no. For me it was the standard laptop that made implementing computers difficult, especially in a math class. You cannot learn math on a typewriter, you need a pen in your hand."

Since other teachers at GCDS were experiencing the same difficulties, administrators decided to transition from traditional laptops to tablets PCs. Administrators believed the pen functionality would appeal to all disciplines and create the student-centered learning environment one-to-one programs are supposed to foster. To learn more about tablet PCs, Donnalley, GCDS's technology director and a couple of other teachers attended Cincinnati Country Day School's (CCDS) tablet PC one-to-one computing conference.

"The conference was coming to an end and I saw great tools, but nothing really stood out," said Donnalley. "Then, right before we were supposed to catch our flight, a math teacher at CCDS said we had to see this product called DyKnow. As soon as we walked out of that room I told our tech director 'I have to try that product'."

When Donnalley and the technology director returned home they worked to secure a two week free trial, and since there was no time to waste, Donnalley started using the product immediately. After only two weeks she knew DyKnow would be integral to rounding out GCDS's new one-to-one tablet PC program.

"I think I said to our technology director 'you have to find the money for this,'" laughed Donnalley. "We were a laptop school for five years and I felt the computers hindered rather than enhanced learning in the math classroom. It was not until we got the tablets and DyKnow that everything started to come together."

Once again showing her commitment to education and one-to-one learning, Donnalley offered GCDS faculty a "night session" to learn more about DyKnow.

"I offered this session and one teacher from every discipline chose to participate," said Donnalley. "That is really a testament to the community of educators here. Each of us is strongly committed to providing our students the best education."

Now, five years in, Donnalley says the program gets better with every passing year and the impact has been undeniable.

"My students now say things like 'give us one more' - when did a student ever ask for one more math problem... never!," Donnalley said excitedly. "Student engagement has definitely increased. The kids' inhibitions about being wrong have lowered. They help each other more. If someone told me I could not teach with DyKnow software anymore I do not think I could do it."

Unexpectedly, Donnalley says one of the most amazing benefits has been the collaboration between teachers.

"The sharing amongst teachers has never happened before the way it does now," said Donnalley. "We are all bouncing ideas of each other - a few days ago a French teacher shared a lesson with me. When would I have ever had a reason to collaborate with a French teacher in the past? It's really amazing."

However, Donnalley is quick to point out she was not always this energetic about the program and she offers a few words of advice to people starting or thinking about starting one-to-one projects.

"All the exciting things do not happen overnight - it is not instantaneous," said Donnalley. "But you have to be excited about the possibilities. There is an incredible opportunity when teachers and students have computers full-time but if they are not going to be used properly then there will be more problems than benefits."