Tech tour boasts benefits of Chromebooks in the classroom

    Hearing about technology is one thing, but seeing it in action brings a whole new perspective.
    Representatives from Re-1J Foundation and Heginbotham Trust were treated to a demonstration of classroom technology at Holyoke Elementary School last Thursday, Oct. 19.
    Both organizations have helped fund technology projects at Holyoke School District, so this gave an opportunity to see direct results from those contributions.
    “This is definitely in line with our mission statement,” said Michelle Van Overbeke, director of Re-1J Foundation, adding that she can see the money is going where they intended it to go. Others representing the foundation on Thursday were members Curt Parker and Aly Brinkema.
    Trustees from Heginbotham Trust included John Schneider and Dave Colver. Even though Will Heginbotham died nearly 50 years ago in a time before laptops and smartphones, “I think he would be proud,” said Schneider.
    The organizations have given donations that helped fund Chromebook laptops, charging carts, mobile science labs and Promethean interactive whiteboards.
    The school district now has around 650 Chromebooks, making it a reality for every student and teacher in grades K-12 to have one at their fingertips.
    “We’re lucky we have such a supportive community behind us,” said Chandra Parker, district technology assistant.
    Thursday’s tour gave representatives a chance to see that technology being used in real classroom settings throughout the elementary school.
    They also interacted with a small group of students who gave them one-on-one demonstrations of some of the ways they are using Chromebooks at school — everything from digital portfolios to stop motion animation to reading comprehension quizzes.
    Students assisting with the demonstrations included Keegan Colglazier, Andrea Marquez, Katie Marshall, Tayla Martin, Matthew Murray, Bodhyn Ring, Joe Schroetlin and Leah Struckmeyer.
    “We have so much (technology) right now, we could spend the next couple years getting good at what we have,” said Kyle Stumpf, elementary principal. “We need to utilize it to its full potential.”
    He told the tour group about how far the district has come in the last several years. Early in Stumpf’s career in Holyoke, he visited a nearby school to see examples of their advanced technology. Now, that same school is coming to Holyoke for a technology tour. The roles have flip-flopped, and Holyoke is now on the leading edge of technology.
    “We don’t know what our kindergartners will need to know when they graduate, but we know we won’t be going backward,” said Stumpf.

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