Our classrooms had only 2-3 outdated desktop computers that each student could use. As you can imagine some mornings these desktops in the lab and in the classrooms took what felt like decades to start up. Once they did, our students attempted to go online; however, the desktops ran slow and would flag us with the dreaded “Google Chrome will stop receiving updates.”
We also encountered the issue of our aged computers unable to run new programs. We could hardly wait for new devices that could keep up with our eager staff and students. With the grace of grants, our school has finally seen this day. Chromebook 2 Toshiba CB30-B Series were introduced into the classrooms for sixth-eighth graders at the beginning of this school year.
We currently have 46 Chromebooks that are used in the classrooms. Students and staff are excited to explore all that our Google Chromebooks have to offer. When first implementing the Chromebooks, students were amazed at how fast they could access the Internet. Accessing the Internet is something so simple that many of us do every day at home and work. However, it proved to be difficult here at school without the proper devices. Students were excited and felt like they were now part of the technology-driven schools.
We were now free to explore the world through our Chromebooks. Teachers were quick to jump on Google Classroom. The idea of a virtual classroom that could one day possibly rid our teachers of carrying around papers seemed glorious. Teachers got to work right away creating their Google Classrooms and assignments and students went to work! Everyone really loved the fact they could go home and the assignment they were working on was saved in their Google Apps and ready for them to continue.
As you can imagine, our computer lab was overdue for upgrades. As mentioned before, we were blessed with grants and now our computer lab has been completely upgraded with twenty seven 22’ LG Google Chromebases. These devices give us the opportunity to have the speed of a Chromebook, but with the stability of a desktop. Just like Chromebooks, they can also be setup and customized with saved setting that are specific to the user.
It’s truly amazing when you see our younger students learn their login information and navigate the device. Our students and teachers now have the option to use our lab as a research center, with the comfort of knowing our computers won’t freeze up or take minutes to log in.
Our new technology now gives students and staff the opportunity to learn and achieve Common Core standards through the convenience of cloud computing. It is our hope to acquire additional Chromebooks so every student can have this device and enrich their learning experience at Our Lady of Perpetual Help School. OLPH is moving forward, ready to branch out and learn new technologies not only in the classroom but in our lab as well. It is through the commitment and dedication of the administration, teachers and staff that Our Lady of Perpetual Help School will continue to prepare its students to lead and innovate in the 21st century.