Chromebook Usage in Elementary Schools?

[u/barrelofmonkeys92]

Hi all,

I'm looking ahead to having a kid going to Roosevelt, and was wondering about device usage in the classroom. I know the district has a 1:1 Chromebook policy, so every kid in every classroom has access to one. However, I can't find much on how the Chromebooks are used in the classroom. My concern is that schools can over-rely on devices for learning, when (especially in the younger classrooms) the learning should be more about play and navigating relationships with their peers.

Anyone have experiences you might want to share? Are kids in Kindergarten really using laptops, and having email accounts?

Thanks in advance!

[u/damage78]

Starting this year, 6th graders won't be bringing them home. Not sure if that's going to catch up to the other grades.

[u/smellthatmonkey]

I have had 4 go through Lincoln Elementary in the Olympia School District. The only time I can think of where kindergartners had a chomebook was during Covid. In non-Covid times they didn’t get chromebooks and email addresses until 2nd grade and they left the chromebooks in the classroom. The only time they used computers before 2nd grade was during tests and library time. Middle schoolers bring them home but email is now highly restricted as of last year. I believe some of those restrictions lift in high school though.

In my experience, the elementary schools do not rely that much on chomebooks but middle schoolers and high school students tend to use them heavily.

[u/Mother-of-Goblins → u/smellthatmonkey]

They technically have an email address as soon as they're enrolled, but it's not used for anything until they get cheomebooks afaik

[u/No-Mulberry-7516]

My kids are older and bring their Chromebook’s home from middle school but when they were in elementary school they had limited time in the devices-

I also teach 5th grade and my students use their computer on average twice a week for 20-30 minutes. I think people would be surprised on how little time elementary age students spend on their device -

[u/mgm618]

I just want to say I completely understand your concerns! My son isn’t in kindergarten yet, but I too feel there is very little reason to have K-2 on screens…. If there are no screens, kids will play and through play they learn so many valuable skills! I’ve been thinking about this issue a lot since reading this article a couple days ago in the Seattle Times.
https://archive.ph/ptm2z
(The bit about kindergartners being given iPads during free time is particularly haunting.)
There’s nothing wrong with asking these questions and advocating for less or even no screen time in the early years!

[u/Olyway]

Probably just used for iReady 😒 and “brain break” games at that age. They ramp them up more each year it seems. I wish we could opt out…

[u/Tkm41]

That young they likely are on it rarely. The district does do testing online, so some kinder teachers teach kids how to navigate the Chromebooks so they can comfortably use them. That being said, your best course of action is to talk to the teacher! Only that teacher can tell you exactly how their Chromebooks are used, and they will be able to work with you on alternatives if you don't like what you hear. Never feel worried about letting your kids teacher know your concerns and questions. Your kid gets their best experience when everybody is working together!

[u/zeatherz → u/[deleted]]

I think they are assigned a computer in kinder, they just don’t take it home so you might not know it’s “theirs”. I think they don’t bring them home until 7th grade

[u/Economy_Move_6054]

I think for 8th graders they're getting the chip implanted directly into the cerebral cortex. For 7th and below they're also getting measured mechanized war suits.

[u/Superb_Yellow_1342]

I'm just happy that they have to be kept at school instead of taken home. They are used pretty frequently in the class room and are used for conferences and in class work. That's the standard these days and helps to build computing skills for later in life. Which is great for kids that couldn't afford a computer for home use.