Use of Technology: Middle School vs. High School

One of the largest differences between the High school (HS) and the Middle school (MS) was the use of technology within the school. The students at the HS did not have chromebooks, whereas the middle schoolers all had their own. According to my CT at the HS, the high school students will not be given chromebooks, as the district is planning to just give the younger kids chromebooks and it will eventually trickle up to the HS. Because I was working with all seniors, who primairly were focusing on senior project, my CT had managed to request one of the classroom computer labs for the entire school year. Although I've only witnessed one day of the middle school students using laptops, it would also appear as thought they use their time a lot more productively. In the HS, the classes I worked with used chromebooks the majority of the time, and despite having many upcoming assignments, a lot of them were using the chromebooks for entertainment.

At the middle school, the students have their own chromebook that they use throughout the day. During their homeroom, they grab their chromebooks from the charging station (each have their own assigned number). Our CT also has cases for the student's chromebooks hung around the room on command strips. Depending on what they are doing in class, the kids will use the chromebooks, but it is not yet required. Unlike other middle schools, this school is not yet forced to use a program such as Summit Learning, although our CT told us that they will (sadly) be implenting Summit into the classrooms next year.

During our first day at the middle school, the students were using their chromebooks to complete a writing assignment. They were working on imaginative narrative stories, as well as correct MLA formatting on their papers. The second day we were there, the students did not use their chromebooks at all, and instead read hard copies of The Tell-Tale Heart by Edgar Allen Poe and The Dead Rising, which was a mini-play in scholastic magazine.

Based on what I have witnessed so far (including observations done prior to this semester), I believe that there is a time and a place for technology in the classroom. While it can be useful, if the students aren't making proper use of their time, the chromebooks can be more of a distraction. It can be challenging to monitor the activity of every student and make sure they are all on task. Sow how exactly can teachers ensure that the chromebooks are being used productively?