A new crop of seventh-grade students at Berner Middle School were issued Chromebooks to use as a primary instructional tool during the school year, a move that expands the district’s “Learning….Anytime, Anywhere” program into grades 7-9.
The “Learning….Anytime, Anywhere” program is a one-to-one initiative, meaning each students is assigned a device that they bring to class, as well as home, with parent approval. The devices are collected in June, but students receive the same device when they return in September.
Students with their parents recently attended an orientation by district officials about the devices’ use and care, then eagerly lined up to receive their new device, which had students beaming with anticipation and their parents cheering in delight.
“I’m excited,” said seventh grader Stacy Eager. “I want to learn about its features and see how we use it in our classes.” Classmates Olivia Bartolo and Caitlin Reilly agreed, saying they are going to charge them and try them out tonight.
A Chromebook is not a laptop nor a computer. It’s simply a device that runs the Chrome web browser, and is used to easily access the web and all its vast resources. Work is saved automatically in a secure cloud-based environment managed by the district. Students can collaborate and communicate with each other and get immediate feedback from their teacher, which helps customize learning for each student. Because there are no programs or software slowing it down, Chromebooks start up quickly, which makes for optimal use of time in the classroom. An eight-hour battery life allows for a full-day of use in the classroom.
Chromebooks will be issued to all secondary students by September 2016.
-Submitted by the Massapequa School District
