Technology is changing the way students learn. Many of the students in our district have never known a world without high speed Internet access, Google, YouTube, and Wikipedia. These children have grown up in a technology-rich world and, subsequently, they think and solve problems differently than previous generations. The district technology committee met last October to discuss how the district could adapt to this new generation of learners. The outcome of these meetings was a recommendation to increase student access to technology using a device that would promote six core technology skills: critical thinking, research, collaboration, adaptability, communication, and presentation. In addition, the device also needs to be acceptable for the move to web-based assessments in 2014–15. Finally, the district’s network infrastructure would need to be upgraded to ensure the devices would have fast, reliable access to the Internet. At the beginning of this school year, the Chagrin Falls Exempted Village School District equipped every sixth grade student at Intermediate School with a Google Chromebook. A Chromebook is similar to a traditional laptop, but it does not run Microsoft Windows or Microsoft Office. Instead, the Chromebook runs Google’s Chrome OS. The device is deeply integrated with the Google Apps for Education suite of products that allows the students to create documents, spreadsheets, forms, and presentations similar to Microsoft Office. The
expectation is that the students will use this device in class on a daily basis. Students are allowed to take the Chromebook home at night and on weekends by contributing $50 per year to the district Technology Fund. Parents will also have the option of purchasing the device themselves in which case the contribution would decrease to $10 per year.
“It is only one week of having the Chromebooks and they are truly part of our routine now,” said Nancy Kevern, sixth grade teacher at Intermediate School. “Every student has one, every class, every day, fully charged, ready to go. We use them, close the lids, have a discussion, open them, use them again. It is seamless, embedded, purposeful… just as I hoped it would be.” The technology department has several other initiatives lined up for the 2013-14 school year as well. Chagrin Falls High School will be rolling out four mobile labs of Chromebooks. Gurney Elementary will be moving forward with a plan to put three to four iPads in each classroom. Teachers that are using five-year-old laptops will be receiving new machines this fall.
Progress of this initiative can be followed at www.greattechspectations.com.
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