Cost effectiveness of various computer deployment models in K-12 education

The primary purpose of this study was to determine what was the most cost-effective approach for placement of computers into the classroom. Secondarily, this study investigated three existing patterns of use of computers and, from that, determined the most cost-effective approach for using computers during the instructional process. This study did not measure instructional effectiveness or student learning with computer use.; As noted from the analysis, the most cost-effective approach for providing for computer instruction was the lab setting. With a cost differential from single computer stations to lab settings of over 3:1 argument made for the placement of computers into a lab setting over placement in every classroom. From both a cost and actual use analysis, computers were more efficiently utilized in a lab setting over single stations and cluster configurations. Usage data was provided by a concurrent study on the same district computers. Actual daily cost of establishing a computer lab, cluster setting or one computer per classroom at each school site was determined to be {dollar}4.72 for single computers, {dollar}2.05 for clusters and {dollar}1.44 for labs.; Another direct pattern was identified through this study. The higher the per-class density of computers the greater the use and cost efficiency. The single computer stations were used less frequently and costs per computer were greater than with the cluster models, which also were used less frequently, and costs per computer were greater, than with the lab model. Staff development costs were the most significant component of the total.; In this study, the oldest computers tended to be located at the elementary grade levels, newest computers at the high school level and middle schools had the middle age computers.; In conclusion, based upon the research of this study, placement of computers for instructional purposes when placed one per classroom cost more than three times as much than that of the computer lab setting ({dollar}259.43 per computer in computer labs, {dollar}368.91 per computer for cluster models and {dollar}848.84 for single computer stations, annually).