October 31, 2023

Technology has become a critical part of our education system. White boards and chalk boards have been replaced with Smartboards and Clevertouch systems. Amidst this change, Chromebooks play a pivotal role in Copley’s ever-evolving array of learning tools. 

Four years ago, Copley went one-to-one, giving each student their own Chromebook. This monumental shift in the classroom environment forced students and teachers to adapt very quickly, moving from iPad and Chromebook carts that were rarely available to the expectation that students will always have a computer within reach.

History teacher Scott Chouinard remembers when technology use had to be carefully planned. 

“You had to make sure that you could get down to a computer lab or get a Chromebook lab,” Chouinard said. “It took some planning rather than, ‘Hey, on Tuesday I’m going to do this, and everybody has their own Chromebook.’”

These new educational tools have opened many possibilities for instruction and learning. Before the introduction of the one-to-one program, Copley classrooms relied heavily on textbooks and paper-and-pencil assignments. Students diligently wrote in their spiral notebooks and research projects required library trips or use of phones in the classroom (which became very distracting and rarely enhanced student productivity). The classroom atmosphere was mostly teacher-centered with students operating in a passive role. 

Access to information has grown beyond comprehension. In the past, textbooks would limit students to information available in a particular volume—which was often outdated, unreliable or was just wrong. Schools were unable to keep up with the growth of information when purchasing endless “updated” editions of expensive books for the classroom. Chromebooks help the school in a substantial fashion by allowing them to purchase the digital licensing. 

Chromebooks have allowed for instantaneous information-gathering, but have they become a distraction for students? Teachers are unable to see what students are doing without constantly monitoring their activity (or using a program like GoGuardian).

“I don’t know what [students are] looking at unless I walk around the room every few minutes,” English teacher Bren Schaeffer said. “I don’t know where your attention is at.”

With students playing games, doing other homework or focusing on another lesson it is now a battle for students’ attention and participation in the classroom. 

“It has forced me to adapt,” Schaeffer said. “Previously I worried more about how to communicate my lesson orally in a lecture, whereas now I have to keep the students’ interest because we are up against technology being used in more entertaining ways.”

While teachers have faced challenges with technology in the classroom, training courses are regularly offered to school staff to inform them about new programs or tech features so they can use the best resources available. 

“One thing that we do is our [weekly] professional development,” Chouinard said. “The department will bring in Nicole Parker, [the coordinator of instructional technology], and she will say, ‘This is what’s going on and this is how you use it, whatever the program might be.” 

One of the most substantial changes with Chromebooks in the classroom has been the ability for each teacher to personalize their lessons to fit each student’s needs. Some teachers make copies of assignments available both online and in physical form so the students can choose the most effective way to learn for themselves. Students can now progress at their own pace using the resources available so they can have a deeper understanding of the material. 

Hopefully, this results in higher grades across each class. 

Waiting for grades can be a very nerve-wracking experience. With technology many tests and assignments can be instantly graded, making it easier for teachers to grade students and for students to receive immediate feedback. This provides students with more accurate class grades and the ability to identify and understand what they missed.

As the school reflects on the last four years, it is clear that the fundamentals of the classroom have changed drastically with the introduction of Chromebooks. Classrooms have become adaptive, dynamic and student-focused. Bringing technology into the classroom isn’t just about keeping up with the times but also preparing students for the future as more and more technology-related jobs hit the market. When members of the Copley community look back from the future, it may be clear that the introduction of Chromebooks was a pivotal moment in the school’s evolution.