736 students take home their ‘own’ computers

By John Howell
Posted 8/23/16

It was brand new and still in the box.

“Aren’t you going to open it?”

Alyssa Silva looked at her mother.

“It’s yours,” said Michelle Santos. “It’s up to you.”

Alyssa, a …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

E-mail
Password
Log in

736 students take home their ‘own’ computers

Posted

It was brand new and still in the box.

“Aren’t you going to open it?”

Alyssa Silva looked at her mother.

“It’s yours,” said Michelle Santos. “It’s up to you.”

Alyssa, a sixth-grade student at Sherman School, smiled. She was still in a state of disbelief. She had just been handed a $250 Chromebook, which she will have for the next three years. She will use the computer in the classroom and at home. She’ll bring it to school every day.

With her mother and older sister, Hope Santos, watching, Alyssa opened the cardboard box and pulled out the machine, flipping it open to show its screen and shiny keyboard. Her mother grabbed the instructions that slid from the box.

Alyssa pushed the power button. The screen remained black. She looked in the box and to one side was the power pack and cord tightly wrapped in a plastic bag.

“We’ll have to charge it when we get home,” Santos said.

Alyssa was one of 736 sixth, seventh and eighth graders to get their own computers Saturday at the Chromebook Carnival run by the Warwick School Department from the gymnasium at the former Gorton Junior High School. The students and their parents had to sign for the computers.

Chromebooks are not new to elementary or secondary students. They have been using them in school for several years now, and the district has about 2,000 of the devices. But this is the first cohort of students to get “their very own” Chromebook. The plan is for 10th, 11th and 12th graders, plus a new group of sixth graders, to get the devices next year.

Douglas Alexander, school director of technology, said the Chromebooks are as much an adjustment for students as they are for teachers. While students are accustomed to the technology of smartphones, tablets and computers and use them to stay in contact with their friends, watch movies and videos, share photos and play games, the personal computer is now being used as a learning tool, not a toy. He points out that in the classroom, students use computers “appropriately,” and now that they are taking them home “modeling behaviors [on how they are used] is just as important.”

To assist teachers in adjusting to the “blended learning paradigm” of online and face-to-face instructions, the district has contracted with the Highlander Institute as “technology integrators.” According to Ryan Mullen, coordinator of teaching and learning, the students use Google Classroom to get assignments and communicate with their teachers. Students were given a user name and password when they picked up their Chromebooks.

The Chromebooks are programmed with Go-Guardian, a security package that “flags” inappropriate activity, Alexander said. The machines carry a one-year warranty, but the district did not pick up the extended package. As Alexander explained, “They will be pretty well used by then [three years] and obsolete.”

Alexander is looking to install, once issues of privacy have been addressed, an anti-theft tracking program on the units. Using GPS, the district would know where the devices are and be able to activate a built-in camera that would transmit a photo of the user that police could use in identifying the thief.

Principals and school administrators ran the Chromebook Carnival with sessions in the morning and afternoon. Superintendent Philip Thornton, along with School Committee chair Bethany Furtado, was among those who greeted students and their families.

The shift to technology had students and parents excited.

“I think some work has to be done, but we’re on the right path,” said Michelle Lehy, who grew up in Warwick, graduated from Vets, and now lives in Cowesett, when asked in general terms about Warwick schools. She said consolidation of schools in response to declining enrollment needed to happen, as painful as it was. Yet she added the savings has opened up opportunities, including middle school sports and use of new technology.

“It’s an exciting time,” she said. The wife of a Providence teacher, Lehy added she “can’t say enough about teachers.” She feels a contract agreement is essential and “should happen as quickly as possible.”

Santos said the Chromebooks put the Warwick system and the students “ahead of the game.” On a personal level, she sees the Chromebook as lightening Alyssa’s backpack, although she reminded her daughter she didn’t want to be getting phone calls that she forgot to bring it to school.

Alyssa didn’t think that would happen.

“I’m happy to have it,” she said while repacking the unit. “It’s easier for me to type instead of write.”

A brave new world is here.

Comments

7 comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here

  • richardcorrente

    Dear School Committee,

    This is a great step in the right direction. Congrats to all. We still need the rest of the students to get their Chromebooks and the teachers are in dire need of a new contract, but this step is a great on and your efforts are to be applauded for it.

    Thank you School Committee!

    Richard Corrente

    Endorsed Democrat for Mayor

    P.S. When I spoke with Anthony Ferrucci in May he said "the School Committee doesn't have the money for Chromebooks at this time." 736 Chromebooks at $250.00 each is $184,000.

    2 questions:

    1.Where'd you get the money?

    2. Where did you buy the Chromebooks?

    Tuesday, August 23, 2016 Report this

  • Kammy

    Who will be in charge of maintenance and fixing issues? Is it up to the parents?

    Wednesday, August 24, 2016 Report this

  • richardcorrente

    Kammy,

    From my understanding in conversation with Anthony Ferrucci, it is all paid for in the maintenance agreement already budgeted in the School Committee. That is, the parents will not have to pay unless neglect occurs. Ferrucci explained that repeated repairs will be a parental problem but manufacturer issues and once in a long while issues are covered in the maintenance agreement. Good question though, and it bears knowing more. I will ask Anthony Ferrucci. You can too. He's approachable. If you get him before I do please call me at 338-9900. Thanks.

    Richard Corrente

    Wednesday, August 24, 2016 Report this

  • davebarry109

    I cannot believe that my tax dollars are buying laptops for students. You've got to be kidding me! Hundreds of thousands of dollars and these things will have to be replaced every couple of years. A new world is here alright...a new world of taxes.

    Wednesday, August 24, 2016 Report this

  • Justanidiot

    These are great!

    They are going to replace a teacher or two!

    And when they get rusty and old, you just up and replace them. No need to worry about health benefits or pensions. Just don't let the kids know that in Barrington they get iPads.

    Wednesday, August 24, 2016 Report this

  • perky4175

    they should be bringing home books

    thats why kids are stupid today with out a electronic device

    they cant even do anything in there head

    Wednesday, August 24, 2016 Report this

  • ThatGuyInRI

    Hey perky4175,

    If you're going to call people stupid, the least you could do is use proper capitalization, punctuation, and the correct homonym when doing so. Failing to do this you may appear well...stupid.

    Thursday, August 25, 2016 Report this