ACS high school students each received a new Chromebook this week as part of a new one-to-one Chromebook initiative to help students master the use of technology and be trained for success in college and the workplace. Portable classroom sets of Chromebooks will also be available for use by elementary and middle school classes by the end of the month.
“We are very excited about giving our students the tools and training in technology that they need to be prepared for college and their future careers,” said Chief School Administrator Karen Oblen. She said donations of over $40,000 enabled ACS to purchase 130 Chromebooks to launch this new initiative.
Prior to the start of this school year, teachers received training in how to integrate the use of the Chromebooks in the classroom and additional teacher and student training will continue this fall.
ACS has taken a series of steps over the past several years to increase technology training, including equipping two computer labs and adding technology-related classes. This year, web design and digital photography were added as new high school electives.
For the 2019-2020 school year, Oblen said ACS will be offering several specialized educational tracks for students when they enter high school, including tracks in computer science, education, business, and pre-med. Dual enrollment to obtain college credits will also be in place.
The enhanced technology offerings are building on a well-established program that begins with 3-year-olds in preschool and continues in elementary through high school. Oblen said one of the successful programs being used is called Education City, software tailored for children from PreK3 to the 8th grade. Middle school students attend computer classes in a lab twice a week, where they learn internet research skills, graphic design, how to make presentations, and other technology-related skills.