MILLSTONE — Christopher Huss, the principal of the Millstone Township Middle School, has announced that all students enrolled at the school will be provided with a Google Chromebook computer to enhance the learning experience for the 2015-16 school year.
“I am ecstatic about the opportunity being afforded to our students through this initiative,” Huss said. “Many adolescents and teenagers already know how to use technology for entertainment purposes. Our task will be to teach the students how to use these tools effectively for learning — a skill that will last them a lifetime.”
Huss said he has received tremendous support regarding the Chromebook initiative.
“With the support of the Board of Education and the vision of Superintendent of Schools Scott Feder and Supervisor of Technology David Tuccillo, students will travel with their device throughout the school day and engage in interactive, collaborative lessons that will build capacity for 21st century skills,” Huss said.
To ensure the initiative and the product were ideal for middle school students, district administrators devoted several years to conducting research, making site visits and reviewing pilot programs.
Paul Baker, the middle school’s assistant principal, had experience implementing a one-to-one student technology environment in his previous position as the curriculum director in the Avon School District.
“Our students are ready to take the next step in their education,” Baker said. “Learning is no longer confined to the brick and mortar school building. We are in an age where learning is on demand and accessed in countless ways on the web. We would be doing the students a disservice by denying them the ability to take ownership of their education.”
Baker believes there will be a learning curve for staff and students who are used to working predominantly out of textbooks and notebooks. Although he believes there is still a place for those traditional modes of information sharing, he stressed that once everyone has a chance to get exposed to the unlimited potential of creating and collaborating using technology tools, there will be higher levels of student output and engagement.
Seventh-grader Emma Saker enthusiastically supports the initiative and said, “I think it’s awesome. Now everyone will have access to the same resources; some students have computers at home and some don’t, but now we all do. It will also help with group work. It is tough to always find a time to meet with classmates to work on an assignment; now we can work together on the same project without having to all meet at someone’s house.”