They are looking to purchase 10 iPads and between 25 and 30 Chromebooks.
White said the technology is used throughout the school, but in different ways.
“Our Chromebooks at early and middle years are mainly tied to specific classes, however some need to beshared between teachers depending on the number of students, number of classes using Chromebooks, and the current supply of the devices. We do our best to have each student, in classes where teachers want to use Chromebooks, have access to one. Unlike high school, students do not necessarily have their own that can be taken home for homework. The iPads are used similarly, with students using the iPads in their teacher’s classroom for different activities or stations.”
He added both devices have been used for years in Turtle Mountain School Division, and the new ones are a supplement to the technology supply.
During the COVID years, personal technology gained the spotlight, as at different times, students had to learn from home. They received lessons and kept in touch with instructors using computer devices. White feels this was the way the division was going at any rate.
“Even before the pandemic, schools were striving for greater access to technology in order to assist and supplement learning but also decrease the idea of booking computer labs or reserving and transporting laptop carts,” the principal explained. “Places that had been moving in that direction definitely benefitted when education moved remote. In a way this is an extension of that, but I think TMSD had already been moving this direction anyway.”
The grants the school received total $14,416. White said it will all be spent on new devices, and they appreciate receiving this assistance, as they do not last forever, and replacing equipment can strain a school’s budget. The benefit of having Chromebooks and iPads is to enhance the educational opportunities and experience of Boissevain students. They are not an end in themselves, however, just pieces in the puzzle.
“Education is very tech centred, however there is a growing awareness of the importance of learning without a screen as well. These devices are to enhance and supplement learning, they are not learning in themselves. Having the access is great, and now teachers can do their best to balance our students’ use of technology and other necessary skills that do not involve a device to create well-rounded learning experiences.”
by PAUL RAYNER, Recorder staff