WILMINGTON, MA – Wilmington Public Schools have successfully begun its 4-year implementation of a 1:1 learning environment at the Wilmington Middle School and Wilmington High School.
This school year, every 9th grader has been required to bring a Google Chromebook (or another electronic device with similar capabilities) to school each day to use in the classroom.
Over the next three school years, the 1:1 program will gradually expand so that by the beginning of the 2019-2020 school year, all students in Grades 6-12 will be participating. At the start of next school year, for example, every 8th, 9th and 10th grader (this year’s 7th, 8th and 9th graders) will be a part of the program.
“It was fabulous to hear how smoothly the rollout went,” said Interim Superintendent Joanne Benton, who is a big fan of this initiative. “[The devices] provide for more exciting, interactive learning.”
Benton contends that the Chromebooks will serve as important educational tools in 21st century classrooms and project-based learning environments. Benton pointed out, for example, that the new science curriculum at the high school is web-based, with no textbooks provided.
Benton cautioned, however, that the school district must invest the necessary time and resources into training its teachers on this new technology, if the initiative is going to be a long-term success.
“To me, the most important part of this project, if it’s going to be successful, is that teachers need to be invested in it. And the only way they’ll be invested is if we provide training,” stressed Benton.
Benton noted that Assistant Superintendent Sean Gallagher is organizing additional training for 9th grade teachers during their CIT (Curriculum Improvement Time) days this year, as well as training for 8th grade teachers over the summer.
“This 1:1 initiative is very exciting, but if you don’t have the training for the staff, it’s not going to work,” recognized Benton. “I want to focus our funds and times on [professional development].”
Wilmington High School Technology Integration Specialist Julie Kelley provided a reassuring update on the program to the Wilmington School Committee at its recent meeting.
Kelley noted that all but 30 freshmen attended the help sessions over the summer, where the district’s IT staff set up each Google Chromebook on the school’s wireless and installed the Google Chrome Management software. The 30 students who couldn’t make those sessions received the necessary set-up assistance from Kelley and the IT staff during the first day of school.
Kelley has only seen three Chromebooks damaged thus far, stressing that the devices are very sturdy. She has many replacement parts and can attempt fixes, or students can get the devices fixed through Dell. According to Kelley, the Chromebooks should last at least four years.
Kelley noted that the Chromebooks were chosen, in part, due to their comparatively low price point of $240, which includes the $30 Google license. Kelley noted that students who cannot afford a Chromebook are loaned one by the district.
Kelley mentioned that all freshmen are now required to complete a new 6-session “digital citizenship” course, which will help them learn how to use their device responsibly. The course will expand to 8th graders next school year. A summer “Tech Camp” is also being developed for 8th graders who wish to learn how to get the most out of their Chromebooks.
Parent Information nights will once again be offered in the spring for parents of students who will begin using Chromebooks next school year.
Students will be required to complete a survey about their use of the Chromebook at end of each school year. Teacher and parent feedback will also be gathered, allowing the district to continue to fine tune its technology plans and strengthen its 1:1 program.
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