Newton Schools Embrace Technology With 1:1 Chromebook Initiative

NEWTON, MA — Freshmen, sophomores and juniors at Newton North and Newton South will each have a school-issued personal computer starting this fall as part of the Newton Public Schools 1:1 Chromebook Initiative. The program is designed to increase use of technology in the classroom and at home in a way that keeps all students on a level playing field when it comes to access.

Sophomores received their Chromebooks midway through last year with two more grades added for this school year. With students retaining the computers from year to year, when next year's freshmen receive them, all high school students will be part of the program.

"I am looking forward to starting the school year with the device this year so that teachers can incorporate them into the expectations up front," Newton North Vice Principal Amy Winston said. "To be able to do that in September, instead of getting them halfway through the year, should increase usage. We're asking teachers to think about more student-centered activities where they can be used. Studies have shown that taking notes on a computer is not as beneficial as taking notes with a paper and pencil. So we are looking for creative and collaborative opportunities to use the devices, not looking to replace the paper and pencil."

The cost is approximately $250,000 per grade for the Lenova 300e Chromebooks that include a touch screen. Parents and guardians are required to sign an agreement that states students are responsible for the care and proper usage of the computer, and that the computer is subject to inspection at any time without notice. The agreement provides guidelines if a computer is lost, stolen, damaged or malfunctions.

"We are doing it the same way we do textbooks," said Toby Romer, Newton Assistant Superintendent of Secondary Schools. "Each of the computers is about $250 and some of our textbooks cost comparable to that. The student assigned the Chromebook is responsible for it and responsible for returning it to school when they leave."

Both Romer and Winston said the reason behind the school purchasing the computers and assigning them to students — rather than encourage students to buy their own and bring them to class like some school districts do — is an equity issue.

"It's important to know that students have access to them at home regardless of a family's ability to provide for that," Romer said. "We are proud of that. For us, the equality argument was crucial. We want all students to have access to the same technology on the same platform."

"If they are all going to be on computers, we don't want one student using a $2,000 computer and another student using a $300 computer," added Winston, who noted that 18 percent of Newton North students are part of the subsidized lunch program.

Previously, high school teachers could request a "cart" of Chromebooks to be used during class. The hope is that having students with computers with them at all times will spur more natural use of the technology in a way that complements a lecture or assignment. This year's seniors will have access to those carts of computers — which Winston said should be more readily available with three-quarters of students in the schools having their own.

"When teachers had to sign out a cart, we heard that a lot of them felt for it to be worth it they had to plan a whole lesson around using them," Winston said. "This way they can use them for 15 minutes in a class instead of having to plan out a 55-minute less two weeks in advance."

Decisions on how — and how often — to use the Chromebooks will remain with teachers, Romer said, but the hope is that the more the computers are with students as an everyday school supply, the more they will be integrated into the ways lessons are taught, assignments are given out and how feedback is provided.

"It's one of those things where we are not pressuring teachers that they have to do this so there has not been much backlash," Winston said. "Some of them have taken advantage of it more than others. But we've found that when someone has success in using a new tool, they share that with their colleagues and you can see that excitement spread."

Winston said she could see that excitement when the sophomores received their computers last year — especially from international students.

"We found this was an extraordinarily powerful tool," she said. "They took a lot of pride in having their own computer. For some of them — not all — but for some this was the first time they had ever had their own computer."