The middle school continues to improve the One-to-One Google Chromebook program and over the past seven months, a new appreciation is forming for the availability and learning possibilities that they provide. Chromebooks are becoming an industry-standard device, are affordable, durable, and make up over half of the devices shipped to the K-12 education market. Building on similar One-to-One computing environments at both Florence Roche and Swallow Union, middle school students are responsible for their assigned Chromebook, following core values connected to positivity, integrity, and respect.
Working as a front line of support across the district, the Department of Technology & Digital Learning’s Shelley Petricca believes the One-to-One program is a great improvement over the prior shared model. ”It has increased student engagement as I regularly observe students studiously working on their Chromebooks both inside and outside of the classroom…and that’s nice to see,” said Petricca.
To meet the needs of all students, instructional and support personnel must ensure students are prepared to thrive in a world that demands collaboration, innovative thinking, and adaptability, but also supports independence as well. “You always have access to [digital] resources and are more independent,” said middle school student Olivia. Fellow student Brody agreed, sharing “it’s easier to get work done [with a Chromebook] and teaches you how to be independent.”
Through readily available and equitable access to Chromebooks, students are developing essential, technology-enriched skills across all areas of the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks. The use of a Chromebook in a One-to-One setting provides instructional staff a rationale and an engaging choice for deeper integration of the universal design for learning (UDL) framework. Access to a Chromebook allows students to engage with the curriculum in new ways such as listening to audiobooks or reading subtitles on a video, as well as nearly limitless options for showing mastery of academic standards.
“I have seen students make better choices for their own learning,” said middle school science teacher Caitlyn Morris, who has observed many positives in the program, including an increase in creative lesson planning. “They have become more aware of their learning styles and the types of work that they are capable of doing…I have seen students take more risks in their learning [with Chromebook access] and taking away that barrier has made an incredible difference in the growth of my students.” Eighth-grade teacher Alison Pflanz is enjoying the increased opportunities and flexibility for teaching her digital curriculum. “Students have more access to digital tools, online simulations, and videos that increase their learning and comprehension, which is great,” said Pflanz.
In addition to digital assessments, students are taking greater ownership of their learning by engaging in assignments that require digital tools and access to Chromebooks. “I think having a Chromebook every day has made my work better…and we have more options for what to do,” said middle school student Gavin. “If we could only do posters or paperwork, I wouldn’t do as well.”
With equitable access to digital tools, such as Google Docs and digital portfolios, One-to-One computing environments support a powerful combination in documenting and representing mastery of writing standards. For example, within the grade five Writing Standards on the Massachusetts Curriculum Framework in English Language Arts and Literacy, it states that students, “Use technology, including current web-based communication platforms, to produce and publish writing as well as to interact and collaborate with others.” Access to a One-to-One Chromebook program documents mastery of this writing standard and allows for a robust opportunity to improve scoring on the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS).
“We have been tasked with fostering innovative classroom environments and with instructional resources and hardware like Chromebooks in place, all middle schoolers can become active learners and better digital citizens,” said Luke Callahan, Director of Technology & Digital Learning. “Access to One-to-One technology allows for innovation, can drive universally designed instruction and alongside the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks, can increase student achievement and support learner variability.”