by Ashley Attanucci
Staff Writer
Beginning Tuesday, January 19, the first day of the new semester, students and staff will be allowed to bring their personal laptops to school to be utilized inside the classroom at the teacher’s discretion.
Students will have restricted access to the internet and full access to online school resources like the library resource Ebsco. Students will not be able to log into the school network from their personal laptops but can access any H-drive file through Fileway. Students are also unable to print from their laptops.
For more information, check Blackboard as some teachers may have addressed this privilege under “Announcements”.
Since CISD is not responsible for laptop theft or damage, students should bring their laptop in a sleeve or case and should never leave the laptop unattended.
The change in laptop policy is a privilege, determined by the teacher of each class who can choose to allow or prohibit laptop use in the classroom. Laptop misuse can lead to permanent ban of the student to use the laptop.
Students, teachers and administrators are excited for students to begin utilizing this privilege and bringing laptops to school.
According to Dean of Instruction Gina Peddy, anticipated benefits include a wider variety of teaching and learning styles, more inquiry-based learning and most importantly “baby steps toward 21st century technology”.
“[This idea] came out of a leadership meeting, and basically originated from cell phones,” Peddy said. “Your cell phone can be used as a teaching tool, [ and since] everybody did fine with that baby step…let’s take it a step further because we’re trying to move toward 21st century learning and [because] students will be taking their laptops to college.”
Peddy refers to the use of cell phones as a learning tool during classroom instruction when students were asked to take a poll with their cell phones.
“It’s exciting to see students excited to learn,” Peddy said.
The use of laptops will open a new door for CHS by introducing a whole new philosophy about learning. Physics teacher Donna Murrell supports this application of technology in her classroom.
“I think it is a positive thing,” said Murrell. “Some people like to take notes on their computer so I think it will be helpful to the student. I don’t think [the use of laptops] will be a distraction.”
Junior Jake Luttmer is looking forward to a different benefit.
“[Bringing laptops to school would] be more efficient and my backpack wouldn’t be as heavy because all I have to do is carry around a laptop instead of a whole bunch of notes,” said Luttmer.
The incorporation of laptops in classroom instruction will provide students (and teachers) with a new take on learning and will bring CHS closer to the vast world of technology and its many advantages.
