STUDENT TECHNOLOGY
by Kimberlee J. Bennett
The first electronic general purpose digital computer was invented in 1945. It filled a room. The first desktop personal computer (PC) came to fruition in 1973. Yes, 50 years ago. Today we have electronic devices that fit into the palm of your hand. This is evidence that technology is constantly evolving in our lives.
Technology has affected the lives of most people and has definitely impacted our children in the 21st century. In fact, the impact is seen at Holyoke Elementary School (HES) because each student is provided with a Chromebook. There are 600 student Chromebooks in the school district, including the alternative school, and 100 Chromebooks for staff. We are extremely fortunate to have the financial support of our community to provide technology in our school.
Elementary Principal Andrea Kammer reflected: “Through the support of our community with the mill levy override, the Holyoke School District (HSD) has been able to purchase every student a 1 to 1 device (1:1). This allows for each student to have their own Chromebook, so whenever technology is needed, the students and teachers have access. With the mill levy override, the Chromebooks have been updated as well.”
A Chromebook is similar in appearance to a small laptop, but it has very limited onboard storage capacity. Chromebooks run on Chrome Operating Systems (ChromeOS) that have cloud storage, not hard drive storage. Instead of Microsoft programs like Word and Excel, Chromebooks utilize the Google programs Documents (Docs) and Spreadsheets (Sheets), respectively.
In 2015, students in grades 3-6 were provided with 1:1 devices. Two years later, K-2 students were each provided with 1:1 devices. Currently students in grades 3-6 may take their Chromebooks home with them at night and on the weekend.
At HES, K-6 students bring their individual Chromebooks to the technology classroom, located in part of the library since the fall of 2020. There are no longer any desktop computers in Holyoke schools. Students and their Chromebooks come to computer class every other day for 30 minutes. This year I am their technology teacher. I teach students Digital Citizenship, the features of their Chromebook, the Google Apps, coding, keyboarding, and more.
All elementary technology classes start the school year with discussions, videos, and slide presentations that teach students about Digital Citizenship. These lessons teach students the knowledge, skills, and practices to engage safely and responsibly in a digital environment.
Digital CItizenship includes:
Taking care of the Chromebooks
Safely managing the Internet
Following teacher directions when using Chromebooks
NOT participating in cyberbullying
NEVER giving out any personal information on the Internet
Thinking twice - If something doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t.
The expectations are high regarding students being smart Digital Citizens inside and outside of school when using technology. Students are taught to avoid giving out their name, address, school info, or password, and to carefully choose their usernames when online. Usernames or “screen names” should be carefully chosen so that the user does NOT provide too much personal information to other users. Providing your full name in your email addresses, Instagrams, and gaming is unsafe. The latter is good advice for people of all ages to follow.
All teachers at HES join in to support Digital Citizenship awareness and stress the importance to students. In conclusion, a smart Digital Citizen tries their best to make good decisions when using technology. The mantra is “Be Kind, Be Responsible, Be Safe.”
In elementary technology class, students learn to type by using a software called Typing Club. This program can be used at school or home. There are many other free typing programs available online for anyone wanting to improve their typing skills. Having students use touch typing rather than looking at the keys is a real challenge, but can be a huge benefit in completing assignments in a timely manner.
The Holyoke School District provides a digital safety net for students by using several methods. Students can only correspond with staff and other students via email within the hcosd.org domain. Strict supervision through apps called GoGuardian and Bark allow teachers to monitor what students are doing on their Chromebooks whether at school or home. All these safety procedures are important when introducing students to the digital world.
All students and parents/guardians are required to sign a Technology Agreement that states the expectations of students and the apps that students have access to on their Chromebooks. Just like having a textbook, if a student drops their Chromebook and causes damage to it, the student/parent is responsible for the cost of any required repairs.
Many of the primary classes use Chromebooks to support math and reading in centers. If you walk into these K-2 classrooms you might see students using Epic, Prodigy, eSpark, Jolly Phonics, Boddle, XtraMath, or ABCya as part of the center work. All these programs support student learning through active participation and can motivate students.
If students are in an intervention program, AimsWeb is electronic software that students access for progress monitoring. If you are unfamiliar with this term, the definition provided by the Renaissance Company is, “Progress monitoring is used to assess students' academic performance, quantify their rates of improvement or progress toward goals, and determine how they are responding to instruction.”
Third graders also use the apps listed above to enhance their education and are learning how to type essays using Google Docs. Current fourth grader Cole Goldenstein shared that writing a biography on Brazilian soccer player Pelé was one of his favorite technology and research assignments in third grade. He also loves math so enjoys playing Prodigy. This program allows students to practice standards-aligned skills in math and English.
The 4-6 graders are actively involved with learning and applying the skills used in Google Apps. At these grade levels, the implementation of technology intensifies. When interviewed, fifth graders Mia Diaz and Eady Sprague agreed that the fourth grade social studies Family History Project using Slides, and the computer BINGO activity in tech class were two of their highlights from the previous school year. Students also type informational, creative, and persuasive essays in Docs while in fourth grade.
Many current and former fifth graders reflected with excitement about their spooky stories assignment for writing class. They also create Slides for reading vocabulary and complete a social studies research project on a country from around the world. Using Docs, sixth graders recently wrote vignettes, brief descriptions, of their names.
Students in the upper elementary grades apply their computer knowledge and do research to complete many topics using Google Docs and Google Slides. In addition, students access assignments on Google Classroom - a simple, safe, and collaborative tool for housing student assignments and communicating between teacher and student. Fifth and sixth grade writing teacher Sarah Bergner shared, “Google Docs allows students to collaborate with both teachers and peers on stories and essays. Research skills are a big part of our curriculum and students talk extensively about finding credible sources while working to form their own opinions.”
Students in fifth and sixth grades benefit from math instructional videos through Generation Genius and Math Antics. In science, students use an inquiry based learning program called SAVVAS, which is described by the publisher, Learning Company, as “includes science lessons, hands-on science activities, virtual labs, simulations, and interactive tools to support students as they practice science in authentic ways.” Furthermore, students access newspapers online to enhance learning in many subjects.
Our elementary students do access technology on a daily basis. They are supervised carefully by the teachers and administration to make sure the technology tasks they engage in are on target with the state standards, the district curriculum, and meet the students’ instructional needs.
Stefan Betley, Educational Technology Coordinator for the Holyoke School District, shared his view on using technology in today’s classrooms: “Many curricular resources are digital. Publishing companies have online resources that support the learners, which allows students (to) receive quicker feedback from their teachers and as a result progress faster. Teachers can take data from the formative and summative assessments they give and adjust instruction to the needs of their students often in real time.”
Additional online support is provided for students through the curricular resources in a variety of subjects: reading is ConnectEd, math is Into Math and Waggle, and science is Study Jams and SAVVAS. Having access to these online resources also allows students access at night to complete homework, review concepts, and study for tests. Sixth grader Yanni Zuniga Garcia recalls using her Chromebook at home to access a study guide to help her prepare for a test. What a convenience! In my opinion, the Chromebooks are truly an educational benefit for our Holyoke students.
Using the online curricular resources, students can also practice their vocabulary, watch instructional videos of the concepts they are learning at school, or read passages from their textbook while at home. Some apps have higher level extension activities and real world applications to meet the standards and increase student achievement. Another benefit is that online tests and quizzes taken at school are available through these resources. All are password protected.
Mr. Betley also stated his opinion that the most beneficial impact to having 1:1 devices is the ability for teachers to collaborate and for students to collaborate. That quick feedback and collaboration leads to students completing a better product, which leads to academic success.
Cecilia Marquez, English as a second language (ESL) teacher, shared her thoughts on the benefits of 1:1 devices at HES: “For ESL students, direct instruction and face-to-face interactions are an essential part of the learning process. I love that students can log in to Google Meets and participate in class (if they are absent). I really like online resources such as Seesaw, Flashlight 360, and Kahoot, where students can demonstrate what they have learned during class. Using technology helps students have fun while utilizing technology they are already familiar with.”
In the classroom of Sarah Bergner, fifth & sixth grade writing teacher, her students are especially involved with using technology. She reported, “My writing students see a huge benefit from 1-to-1 devices. Working through Google Classroom, I am able to share resources, assign materials, and collect assignments. Working online allows us to connect with authentic audiences by entering contests, sending professional emails, and writing for the newspaper.”
Technology is essential in 21st century education so schools are obligated to prepare each student for the future. Holyoke Elementary School is doing just that by providing students an authentic experience with 1:1 devices, technology classes, and purposeful, specific assignments. Because technology is evolving worldwide, education must keep up so that our students have all the tools to be successful in their future endeavors.
(Kimberlee Bennett is an elementary teacher currently serving as the Technology teacher and Librarian at Holyoke Elementary School. She is a graduate of Holyoke High School (1979), Kearney State College (1983), and Adams State College (2006). She has taught in the Holyoke School District since 1989 and loves the students and the Dragons!)