Scoil Mhuire Chromebook Scheme Sept 2024

Chromebook Scheme 2024 For 1st - 6th Class.

Background
Following a positive response (36 out of 51 responses) to our parents survey in February 2021
"I would consider purchasing a new Chromebook for my child if the school organised a scheme"

We continued the scheme in 22/23 and 23/24 and have some options that can be in place for the next school year 2024/25.

The Dell 3110 Chromebook is the model we will purchase.
https://www.dell.com/en-ie/shop/laptop-computers-2-in-1-pcs/chromebook-3110-laptop/spd/chromebook-11-3110-laptop/n009chb311011emea

The school will purchase, set up and maintain the Chromebook. The children will use them in class and can take them home when needed for homework/project work. 

Essentially the school will own the Chromebook while the children are in our school. This will mean they are covered under our insurance for accidental damage in school and at home.

When children finish in our school and the Chromebook is paid for, they can take the Chromebooks with them to Secondary school. The local Salesians Secondary school is also a Google school so the Chromebooks can continue to be used there. You can buy the Chromebook in one payment or installments per month for 3 years using our school Aladdin payments system. We can be flexible with the repayments so if you want to pay off the balance early, in bigger installments or your child is finished in our school then we can facilitate that. 

This scheme is voluntary, However, we do want to get to the situation where no child is at a disadvantage. That is, each child will have access to a Chromebook in school and a device (Chromebook/laptop/Mac) at home when needed.

So if you have a suitable device at home that can be used for project/homework, we have some devices that can be used in class.

Whether you are interested or not in the scheme we need to plan for our future technology needs at the school.

We can get things moving and we hope to have everything in place for this school year for those children from 1st to 6th class.

Chromebooks for Learning

It is an aim that every student of Scoil Mhuire will have the opportunity to use a Chromebook on a daily basis, either their own, or one from the school’s resources, for use in lesson time to ensure access for all. 

Since 2018, we have been using Chromebooks in lessons and they have been a fantastic addition to the classroom. The feedback from both staff and students has been extremely positive and we have seen improved engagement from our students when using the Chromebooks.

We are confident about the impact this development will have on our student’s learning. Our student’s daily lives are filled with technology and they are quick to embrace new developments. We want our students to feel at ease in this rapidly changing climate. 

Chromebooks provide a sound vehicle to help our students become responsible digital citizens and lifelong learners. Our scheme is an ‘opt in’ scheme; provision will be made for all students. Our school firmly believe in the merits of the scheme and the educational benefits it offers students and expect that parents will want to support the initiative.

Embracing the combination of school and home learning is crucial to the future success of young people. Technology allows learning to be increasingly engaging and lets the school extend effective learning beyond the classroom.

By joining this scheme, students will have a Chromebook exclusively for their own use both at school and at home.  

What is a Chromebook?

Chromebooks are different to laptops in that they run the Google Chrome Operating System. This means that Chromebooks primarily work through a WiFi connection with Google apps and documents available whilst online in the cloud.

Why have we chosen Chromebooks?

There are a wide range of tablet and laptop-style devices available on the market and the when considering the type of device which would be best suited to students in our school.

A Chromebook looks like a laptop in appearance but operates in a very different way with students accessing services and apps online. It can also function as a tablet and has a touch screen display.  The Chromebook operating system is produced by Google who provide a wealth of apps and services, which are specifically designed to support students in education.

Chromebook devices boot-up in a matter of seconds and have a battery life that lasts up to 10 hours, depending on use. Chromebook devices are managed centrally the school to ensure that access is safe and secure. While at school Internet content is filtered for inappropriate content to ensure students can access everything they need for their school work.

Students need to be prepared for an increasingly digital world. Research has confirmed that good home access to technology has a positive impact on a child’s educational achievements; it often motivates them to do schoolwork by providing more interesting and engaging ways to learn.

Chromebook features:

• Less than 8 seconds to boot up 

• Long battery life

• Simple technology

• Easy student-teacher workflow

• Automatic updates, meaning there is no need to purchase new software and install on device

• Excellent collaboration tools

• Works seamlessly with Google Workspace and other cloud based applications which all of our students and teachers already use extensively.

The following are just a few examples of what students will do:

• Create, share and collaborate using Google Workspace tools

• Use subject related apps and websites in the classroom and at home 

• Access digital copies of books and school books

• Record and listen to audio and video and use a keyboard, mouse and touchscreen.

Our teachers have all been working hard to learn how to make use of all of these tools.

Will Chromebooks be used in every lesson, every day?

Traditional methods of learning will still hold a vital place at Scoil Mhuire and students will not be using these devices 5 hours every school day, but they will be used in a blended learning approach. 

Chromebooks are an educational tool, not a replacement for these methods.  Students will have access to multimedia videos and also to more resources than could normally be handed out in one lesson.

When do we get our Chromebook once we have placed our order?

Once the first payment has been received, Chromebooks will be allocated to students. We are expecting Chromebooks to be available during September 2024. 

My child already has a different device. Can they use that instead?

It would be a very simple solution to allow students to bring any device in from home; however, research has shown that ‘bring your own device’ schemes create issues in the classroom.  Teachers instead of teaching had to start troubleshooting and trying to help the student work their piece of technology rather than getting to the depth and breadth of the topic of the lesson.  We want to avoid this at all costs as technology is a tool to help learning, it should not distract from it. So, every Chromebook we have in the school so far (we have over 100) are the same Dell model, this minimises issues.

Benefits to parents

• No upfront cost if you chose to pay over 3 years.

• Please note: At the end of the lease, you will own the Chromebook and will not be charged any additional fees to do so.

• Special education pricing.

• 12-month manufacturer warranty.

• Accidental damage and theft insurance

• Research has shown these devices are very reliable and have good longevity

• Furthermore Chromebooks are increasingly being used in further education

• It will be used as a professional tool at school and for homework/project work.

• Supporting students in developing technological skills for the world of work

• Choice of outputs meaning that students will still use pen and paper as the Chromebook is not a substitution for writing by hand

• Full ownership of device at end of the scheme of monthly or one off payments

How do I connect the Chromebook to the Internet in my house?

Chromebooks use WiFi to connect to the Internet so you will need Wi-Fi at home to use the Chromebook on the Internet. If you have Wi-Fi in your home or a hotspot on your phone, these can be used to connect the Chromebook to the internet. If you do not have Wi-Fi at home, the Chromebook will still work for many things (most apps, reading eBooks, etc.) but, for example, Google Classroom and Workspace tools will not be updated until the Chromebook is back within the school network.

Is the battery good enough? How will charging work?

Chromebooks have a battery life of 10 plus hours. This varies depending on what the Chromebook is being used for (e.g., web browsing is very different to using Youtube). As long as students charge the Chromebook overnight, it will last all day. Students are responsible for bringing their charged Chromebook to school.

Are there any Chromebook guides available?

Yes, there is a lot of (free) guidance out there. This link is a good place to start:

https://www.google.com/chromebook/howto/

We will make sure all of our students receive the teaching input to get them up and running with their new Chromebooks when they are issued.

Who owns the Chromebook?

Scoil Mhuire owns the Chromebook until full payment has been made.

Why can’t the school provide these devices free?

The school has a limited amount of funding for ICT in school and this primarily pays for the maintenance of our school/teachers needs. As we are asking families to pay for the device, therefore it can be used outside of the school day if needed.

What happens if the Chromebook is lost, stolen or damaged?

If a Chromebook is lost or stolen, it is important that it is reported to the school as soon as possible. The insurance will cover the Chromebook for theft and accidental damage. 

Chromebooks acquired via the scheme come with a Dell 1-year collect and return warranty.   Should the Chromebook become damaged at home, please bring the device into school and we can arrange a temporary replacement and repair. 

What about safety on the way to and from School?

It is sensible to reduce the risk of theft/damage through some common sense measures; students should keep their Chromebook in their bag on the way to and from school, both for road safety and crime prevention reasons. It is recomended to keep all drinks in pockets outside of school bags to minimise the chance of water damage.

Where can I access the schools Acceptable User Policy in relation to the safe and practical use of technology in education.
See the Scoil Mhuire website for all our policies https://www.pallaskenryns.ie/home/parents-zone/policies-and-documents
We updated our Acceptable User Policy in November 2021 and the draft policy can be viewed on our website.

Is the Chromebook a substitute to the physical books that need to be purchased?

No, Physical books are still needed but usually a digital copy of the books are available online to view on the Chromebook when needed.  

Will the Chromebook if purchased be shared with others? 

By joining this scheme, students will have a Chromebook exclusively for their own use both at school and at home. 

I can purchase a Chromebook for less than the Dell model chosen for this scheme. Why are we not using that?

The Chromebooks may look similar and have a 64GB hard disk but the 2 main differences are,

1. This Dell model is a touchscreen Chromebook. A touchscreen is a really important feature for young users - it's part tablet/part laptop.

2. The Dell will be more reliable based on our experience in the school. We want it for 6+ years.

Are there additional payments that will be required after purchasing the Chromebook such as books, apps, security etc?

We have been using them since 2018 with no extra costs to the student.The Chromebook is managed by the school. We install and pay for an enterprise licence for it and ensure it has any apps, permissions, extensions, updates etc that are required. These do not cost anything extra to the students. 

If you have any further questions please contact the school. info@pallaskenryns.ie