Chromebooks a fragile tool in learning arsenal at Forest Park

ByFree Press Staff Reading Time: 6 minutes
Madeline Wigand and Elise Hasenour shared a laugh while using their Chromebooks at Forest Park.
Madeline Wigand and Elise Hasenour shared a laugh while using their Chromebooks during a freshman English class at Forest Park.

A squad of trained techies now patrols the halls and classrooms of Forest Park High School.

Their mission: frontline technology support for the 480 Google Chromebooks in the hands of the students at the Southeast Dubois County High School.

This isn’t the Geek Squad. It’s a group of 13 technology-savvy students from a recently formed class, Information Technology and Communications, taught by the newly-titled Technology Integration Specialist Kyle Greulich.

The corporation recruited Greulich from their technology service and support provider, Five-Star Technology Solutions. He now heads all training and issues with the school’s Chromebooks.

Elise Hasenour adds a picture through Google Docs, a word processing app on the Chromebook.
Elise Hasenour adds a picture through Google Docs, a word processing app on the Chromebook.

A Chromebook is a laptop using the Chrome operating system created by Google. Students use apps provided through the Chrome Web Store and have access to an internet, or cloud, based set of office programs including word processing, spreadsheet, and presentation apps. All the data is stored in the Google’s cloud-based storage system, Google Drive, and is accessible from anywhere and any computer through the student’s Google account.

Most apps do require students to have internet access but some apps, like word processing, are available offline.

With iPads already being used by teachers in the classroom, the Southeast Dubois School Corporation decided on the Chromebook for its 1:1 technology initiative that kicked off last fall.

Greulich says everyone at the school knows the juniors and seniors who are in his class, and students call upon these peers throughout the school day when in need of technical support on the Chromebooks.

Senior Sarah Herbig is one of those tech gurus. A self-proclaimed lover of technology, Herbig jumped at the chance to join the new class and squad. She says the Chromebooks are a good fit for students at Forest Park.

“You can find more information and its easier to access than in a textbook. And faster than an iPad,” she explained.

A technology native, She lists other technology she uses at home: iPad, iPhone, Kindle, Xbox, … “everything” she says. She plans to pursue a career in information technology after high school.

“I’ve always been into computers, technology and video games,” Herbig says. “Students like me interested in technology field have a bigger advantage to learning technology through the Chromebook and the class.”

Herbig says many of the problems students have had with the devices are minor. “The biggest problem is students forget to charge their Chromebooks at home,” she explained.

As is apparent by the frequent notices to students on Twitter like this one.

Another appeared after the most recent 2-hour delay caused by the winter weather.

Other issues have included keyboards not working, log-in issues, inability to connect to WiFi, and broken screens. Herbig says the student support can usually solve these minor issues.

According to some parents the devices aren’t really worth the added hassle.

“They are just one more item that students have to carry around during their day, already having extreme weight in their backpacks,” Gabe Fehribach commented on a Facebook post. “Teachers ask around, ‘What do you like about Chromebooks?’ and the number one answer is ‘you can play games.’ In my opinion, they are not needed and should be taken back, with the money that our parents wasted on them be refunded [sic].”

Fehribach acknowledged that for assignments being able to type was faster than writing but overall among his freshman peers, the devices were not well-liked. He stated problems with internet connectivity and the Chromebook’s fragility detracted from their usefulness.

Noah Braunecker, Cosette Fehribach, and Lauren Blume using the Chromebooks during Junior English.
Noah Braunecker, Cosette Fehribach, and Lauren Blume using the Chromebooks during Junior English.

Last semester, Greulich piloted the Chromebooks with seniors in the first couple days of school, working out the kinks with the help of first semester’s technology students. Greulich outfitted all the students at Forest Park within four weeks.

“They’ve gone well. It’s been a surprise,” Greulich said. “It takes some time logistically.”

Greulich also teaches two periods of Preparing for College and Careers at the high school, which he says incorporates use of the Chromebooks. He says some teachers are gradually shifting to digital media using the Chromebooks.

Using the device is not mandatory for teachers or students and some classes work better with it than others. English classes, such as Sara Pund’s freshman class use Chromebooks nearly daily.

Other classes do not adapt as well to using the digital device. “For math, we are still looking for a tool to use with Chromebooks,” Greulich said.

According to Principal Jim Mehling, the Chromebook is not meant to replace other learning materials and the devices are just another tool in the students’ arsenal. He says they are not meant to be used in every class or every day.

Forest Park Schools are not replacing textbook rentals. Many classes still require various book rentals but some classes give the option to use a Chromebook as a textbook.

Including the $50 Chromebook rental, students pay between $80-$225 on book rental, depending on class requirements. The devices will be handed down from graduating seniors to the incoming freshmen.

The schools purchased 600 total Chromebooks at $279 each, which includes $30 for  the Google management system. Also, 20 of these are kept on-hand as loaner devices for students who forget their device at home or while a broken Chromebook is repaired.

“For right now, it’s a dual use. ” Mehling said. “Some of our kids love computers and some don’t. Some just want to write in a notebook and read out of a textbook.”

He continued, “Maybe we’ll find out computers will replace textbooks in the future. But I think that’s premature. They are good. It probably brings some newness to teaching and teaching styles. It pushes the envelope with some teachers, gives them new ways of doing things. But just because it’s newer, doesn’t mean it’s better. I want [students] to be exposed to all teaching styles.”

The school does aim to replace its six aging computer labs that are rarely used and Mehling sees the Chromebooks as a more economical way to keep up with technology long-term. “Maintaining labs was costly,” Mehling said.

Principal Mehling says the corporation is taking its time in adopting the technology. “We’ve done it well. We haven’t forced it on anyone,” Mehling said. “Everyday they find better ways to use them.”

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