I plan to survey some high school students on their overall feelings about the Chromebooks in the classroom in an upcoming post, but as of now I wanted to gain some feedback from teachers at the high school.
Here is a sampling of the feedback I have received from teachers to date:
Mr. Nate Loman, U.S. History Teacher:
"I have found the use of the Chrome books very liberating – no longer am I bound by have enough copies – that, combined with the use of Google Classroom and everything is at the fingertips, literally, of my students! Allows for versatility and flexibility within the classroom."
Ms. Shannon Blair, 9th Grade Honors English Lang. Arts Teacher:
"Chromebooks are a wonderful tool to have in the classroom. I use them frequently in order to allow students to do research, write their papers, and do homework assignments. I use Google Classroom on a weekly basis in order for students to turn in assignments. Chromebooks allow students to work on typing their assignments in Google Classroom while in class and get assistance that they may need. They are able to sit at their desks and as they have questions, they can bring their Chromebooks to me at my desk, which eliminates roaming around the room and causing disruptions. It is easier for me to sit with students at my desk rather than bend over computers all day long.
While writing research papers, we use Noodle Tools which is an online tool for writing papers. Chromebooks allow students to access this site in the classroom and work on taking notes, make a works cited page, outline, and write their paper. Having access to other cites while researching is necessary and Chromebooks allow for this. Again, I like the ease that Chromebooks provide for students and teachers to work together.
Finally, I use Chromebooks for our Star Reading Tests and for preparation for the PARCC tests. It allows students to become familiar with them so that when they use them on the upcoming tests, they will be more prepared.
When given the choice to hand write or type poems in google classroom....majority picked google classroom.
Ex. 24 kids in 7th period....5 hand wrote...the rest google classroom
They ASKED me to make a folder for them to have the option to turn it in this way!!!!!"
Mrs. Erin Miller, 10th Grade English Lang. Arts Teacher:
"The Chromebook cart stationed in my classroom has been an invaluable resource. We use them three or more times a week in English 10 CP for access to Google Classroom and Google Docs, among other things, and we use them daily in Bridges to Writing. While schools will never truly be paperless, this tool enables teachers to run a more efficient and tech-savvy classroom and incorporate more 21st Century skills for our students. For instance, I am able to actually write with my students in the same document while giving a buffer of personal space, something valuable to a young writer. I can also set up sessions where they get instant feedback on their work, whether in Google Docs, Padlet, or any other tool we access in our studies. If I need them to access a list of websites for a particular writing assignment, I can develop it in Google Classroom and they have instant access without needing a paper trail to follow. To say the Chromebooks have changed the way I instruct is an understatement.
Having a cart readily accessible also eliminates stress for already harried teachers. Knowing that I d not have to worry about my students forgetting a book, story, or any other material in class gives me a certain degree of freedom as an instructor. Students are more prepared to dive into deeper thinking; they stay organized, using their Google drives to keep their written responses in appropriate folders and access them as needed. They have quick access to the Internet and any other digital tool that I use in instruction, eliminating the process of booking a lab at the last minute and rearranging plans if it is not available. Class runs more smoothly as a result, and we all stay on a successful path of learning."
Mr. Ray Killian, 10th Grade English Lang. Arts Teacher:
I use Google Classroom on Google Chromebooks daily. Through this resource I have noticed the following benefits:
· I can have students truly collaborate on projects.
· I can monitor and comment on their work in real time as they are doing it.
· I have reduced my paper consumption by more than half.
· I have a better organized portfolio of students' work that is date-stamped.
· I have noticed that when I type a comment or "suggest" a correction, it is more likely to be incorporated in the finished product than if I just tell them or mark on a paper in red ink.
· If I encounter a resource that would be beneficial to the entire class, I can share it with them immediately. For example, if a student wrote a paragraph that is an exemplar of a concept I am trying to teach, I can quickly pull it up on the data projector or share it with the entire class almost instantly.
· I have used Google Classroom to differentiate in the classroom by giving multiple assignments that are tiered. So I am able to accommodate by ability level and pacing.
~Post by Angela