Schools
Nothin' but Net: D123 Students Get Technology Upgrade
Eighth-graders at Oak Lawn-Hometown Middle School receive their very own netbook as part of district wide initiative to turn students into 21st century learners.
Christmas came a little early at On Monday, every eighth-grader in the school received his or her own netbook.
The netbooks are part of an aggressive technology plan initiated by over a year ago.
Big-eyed students walked to the front of classroom when their names were called and excitedly took possession of their new netbooks.
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“I like that I get to have my own laptop,” OLHMS student Michelle Martinez said. “It’s better than using the school’s computers.”
Over 500 families participated in informational meetings earlier this month to learn about the program.
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“Parents were very interested in the program,” D123 Superintendent Art Fessler said. “The question-and-answer sessions lasted over 30 minutes on both evenings due to their curiosity.”
“We were able to attain the netbookds at a dramatically reduced cost and hope to pass the savings on to families,” Fessler said.
Over the next month all of the district’s fifth, sixth and seventh-graders will also receive their own netbooks. The devices will be stored at school in special cabinets that also serve as docking stations.
Families can purchase the netbooks outright by making one annual payment over three years.
Fessler said the parent payment plan not only equips the student with an advanced educational tool for home use, but provides financial sustainability for the program itself.
21st Century Learning
Netbooks are low-end laptops that are smaller, cheaper and underpowered, running on old or unfamiliar operating systems. Netbooks are the fastest selling item on Amazon and are made by virtually all of the major computer brands.
The netbooks purchased by D123 come equipped with a 10-inch monitor, a Linux operating system and over 50 pre-installed applications, including multiple math programs, word process, Google earth, and photo and editing software.
D123 spokesman Ben Grey said the netbooks would enable middle school students to communicate more efficiently, problem-solve, collaborate and create.
“We hope to develop dynamic learners that are prepared for the 21st century,” Grey said.
Grey explained the concept of a 21st century learner “that extends outside the traditional model of teaching.”
“It helps prepare students for a world that has changed dramatically,” he added.
Looking to the Future
Principal Paul Enderle led school board members and visitors on a tour of the school’s eighth grade classes where overjoyed students were experimenting with the netbook’s different applications.
Algebra teacher Teresa Loch was looking forward to using the netbook for assessment and testing.
“They (the students) will definitely utilize the math programs available on the netbook in my class,” Loch said.
Students watched a short tutorial that explained the netbook’s care and functions. The students were then broken into pairs and each given an application to explore. Students shared what they learned on the classroom’s smart board.
Eighth-grader Rachel Mearing said the netbook would help “get all of my work done faster and help me learn to type much faster.
Yasmin Herrera said she would use hers to study by going online and checking homewook. Matt Rosalez intended to use his to keep organized.
Dylan Catalano-Wild was simply grateful to receive the netbook.
“I’m not going to have to lug around all of those notebooks for each class for much longer,” he said.
