More students to receive Chromebooks
Media by Abhijit Srirangam
Vishnu Kumar, freshman, uses his Chromebook to open Google Classroom during his first hour ALAR/P class.
At the onset of the upcoming 2018-2019 school year, RSD will dole out Chromebooks to all incoming freshmen for the second consecutive year, and look into ways to supplement Chromebooks for some juniors and seniors, as part of the district’s 1:1 Chromebook policy.
Lee Mitchell, librarian, is in charge of distributing and managing the Chromebooks. Mitchell said while all freshmen and sophomores will have their own Chromebooks by August 2018, the feasibility of distributing Chromebooks, which cost $250 each, to upperclassmen remains in question.
“I know the district is looking at how many Chromebook carts we have and how many Chromebooks that is and possibly distributing those so that juniors and some seniors if not all students would have Chromebooks,” Mitchell said. “But that’s just in the works right now. All we know for sure is next year’s freshmen will get Chromebooks.”
Michael Schmitz, sophomore, has had his own Chromebook for the last two years, first getting access as part of the ALAR/P I class in 2015. Schmitz said he doesn’t believe the Chromebooks have much utility for most of their freshmen users.
“We only use it in ALAR/P,” Schmitz said. “I think there’s a very limited demographic that would be able to use it. There’s a level of convenience but not very much. We all have computers at our own homes.“
Schmitz said the two-year-old Chromebooks of reading strategies and ALAR/P students are beginning to show signs of wear and tear. Many of his friends’ Chromebooks have broken already.
“Mine’s kind of holding on right now but it’s not really in the best condition,” Schmitz said. “There’s a lot of questioning about the necessity of Chromebooks.”
Sam Hyken, freshman, doesn’t take his Chromebook to school.
“Everything I use my Chromebook for, I can do on my phone,” Hyken said. “It’s just extra work.”
Hyken uses his MacBook at home because he feels it better suits to his needs. But he understands why other students find the school provided technology useful.
“I feel like they’re useful for some kids,” Hyken said. “Some kids are on there 24/7, taking notes. But there’s no reason for me to.”
Your donation will support the student journalists of Marquette High School. Your contribution will allow us to purchase equipment and cover our annual website hosting costs. You may become a PATRON by making a donation at one of these levels: White/$30, Green/$50, Blue/$100. Patron names will be published in the print newsmagazine, on the website and once per quarter on our social media accounts.
