It seems only fitting to provide technology to the youth going through school during the digital age to help them with their education. In addition, skills learned through the use of technology in school could prove useful later in life in a digitally connected global society.
BY PETER MASSARONE
The plan to implement technology into the classroom in Coventry Public Schools was unanimously approved by the school committee on April 15, 2014. Starting in the current school year, Coventry Public Schools is implementing a 1:1 device initiative for students in grades 6-12 along with putting Chromebook carts in the elementary schools.
A 1:1 device initiative means that every enrolled student will be issued a device that can technologically improve a student’s learning through access to the Internet, digital assignments, and online textbooks. Once the school department increased the budget by $300,000 and taxpayers voted to support the initiative, the plan was put into effect.
As the plan to implement technology into the school system developed, thought was given to how the addition of technology would provide benefits to teachers, students, and the school system. The main answer from senior administrators to the question “why now?” seems to be “for the betterment of the students.”
It seems only fitting to provide technology to the youth going through school during the digital age to help them with their education. In addition, skills learned through the use of technology in school could prove useful later in life in a digitally connected global society.
Not only will students benefit from the addition of more technology to the education system, but the school system itself has been enhanced by adding more technology. Certain requirements must be met by the school system, and adding more technology will make these requirements more easy to achieve and document. Among these requirements are both national and statewide programs including Common Core State Standards (of which 63 are directly related to the use of technology in teaching and learning), online PARCC testing (which is supported by 23 states and the District of Columbia), and the National and RI Department of Education’s Technology Plans, along with Coventry Public Schools’ own District Strategic Plan.
Additionally, the 1:1 initiative makes Coventry Public Schools eligible for Gates Grants from the Bill & Melinda Gates foundation, and grants such as these could potentially garner funding that could be put towards improving the high school and middle school. Also, the budget can be reconstructed due to reduction in costs for physical textbooks, paper, and other resources.
Coventry Public Schools also cares about maintaining the condition of the Chromebooks for daily student usage. Coventry Public Schools owns all the Chromebooks distributed, so they want to make sure that their belongings are protected. Upon being issued a Chromebook, most students purchased an insurance agreement policy where for $40 ($25 for 11th graders and $15 for 12th graders), students’ Chromebooks are financially covered for the cost of replacement parts. However, service fees and replacing a lost/stolen Chromebook incur additional payments. Also, families with multiple children paid less for insurance for all Chromebooks after the first child.
Another small note related to keeping Chromebooks in fine working order: students can purchase a case for added protection. There is a link to do so on the Coventry Public Schools site.
Lastly, students are encouraged to review the Digital Use and Safety Policy for the school which identifies the rules digital citizenship. This information can be viewed on the Coventry Public Schools homepage.
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