At the Middlesex Middle School (MMS) Library Monday, students eagerly entered and then waited their turn at the check-out counter. MMS Library Media Specialists Sewell Harrison and Denise Ryan were ready for the scene that will be repeated 800 times over the next two weeks:
- Review computer user and loan agreements – check
- Assign Chromebook to student – check
- Distribute charger and color-coded sleeve – red for the 6th graders this week – check
- Send to tables to fill out a sticky name label with markers – check (and take a treat from the counter)
In all, Darien Public Schools will assign over 1,100 Chromebooks across the elementary and middle schools prior to the holiday break. Students in grades 5, 6, and 7 will now be able to take Chromebooks back-and-forth to school, and use it as a regular tool for learning. Grade 4 students have 1:1 access in the classrooms only.
Prior to the Chromebook launch this week, all students had lessons on digital citizenship – ethical and responsible use of technology. Teachers also had time to set-up a digital classroom — Google Classroom — ahead of the launch.
Additionally, Marc Marin, Director of Instructional Technology, led multiple parent workshops where over 200 parents attended to discuss the current roll-out, which is part of a 4-year technology plan. All materials related to the roll-out are posted on the district and school websites.
The result of phase 1 of the roll-out, and future ones, will be increased access to technology and digital resources to support teaching, learning, and student achievement, according to Marin.
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Editor’s note: The above article is from this week’s Darien Public Schools Newsletter. Below are Board of Education Chairperson Michael Harman’s remarks about the digital “One-to-One” (or “1:1”) program to get digital devices into the hands of every Darien student. These remarks are excerpted from his “State of the Town” address Monday night to the Representative Town Meeting:
Last year, the Administration proposed an initiative to integrate technology into the curriculum and teaching that takes place in the classrooms.
Photo from Darien TV79
Michael Harman, chairperson of the Board of Education
The vision was for Darien to become a 1:1 school district, grades 5 to 12 over the next three years. Starting this week, our sixth graders are receiving their Chromebooks to use in the classroom and at home.
Next week, seventh graders will receive their devices and most of our fifth graders should have them before Christmas break.
Much work has been done to arrive at this point, including professional development for our teachers, pilot programs, student digital citizenship training and updated digital use policy.
The district is now at the point of transition to a technology program developing 21st century skills in our students.
This roll-out is part of a three-year long budget initiative to bring technology to all the classrooms, comparable to the introduction of Smart Boards in the classrooms.
Next year, the 1:1 roll-out will continue with the introduction of a tablet device at Darien High School while continuing the Chromebook deployment to the current fourth graders when they transition to fifth grade.
The superintendent’s proposed budget will reflect the continued investment in our students’ technology initiative.
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See also:
- Wikipedia article on the Chromebook
- Wikipedia article on “One-to-one computing in education“
- New York Times article on how two Oklahoma school districts are using tech resources: One with help from local employer Google, and one without.
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