Back in April, the Eastern Pulaski School Board approved the purchase of Chromebooks for the elementary school. On Monday, members had the chance to see how they’re being used.
“Mrs. Kelly Sass, who teaches fourth grade, had four or five students come in and actually took Chromebooks and went up to the board tables and were showing board members some of the things that they’re doing on the Chromebooks and some of the programs they’re using and Google Classroom,” says Superintendent Dan Foster. “It was kind of neat to interact with the students and ask them some questions.”
Foster says the new Chromebooks are also helping to prepare students for next spring’s ILEARN test. “In the past, we had still maintained, basically, paper and pencil for the ISTEP test, and even though we have done NWEA and some other assessments that are online, the new Indiana test will be all online this spring,” he explains. “So it’s kind of getting those students used to being on a computer-type device. Previously, they’ve had some iPads in the lower grade levels, five or six iPads per classroom. So trying to get them some experience there, which includes, this year, they’ll have to type, actually.”
Eastern Pulaski Elementary School currently has 100 Chromebooks for use by third, fourth and fifth graders, and the devices are proving to be popular, according to Foster. “I think about every time I walk in the elementary, somebody is hitting me up about getting more Chromebooks over there,” he jokes, “so I think it’s going well. The teachers seem to like them almost as much as the kids do.”
Foster says Principal Jill Collins and Technology Integration Specialist Shannon Burgess also shared their perspectives on the new devices with board members.
