New Chromebooks Make For Double The Fun (And Learning)!

As we enter the third week of having the new Chromebook cart available in the back room of the library, the processes are starting to come together, and the technology is being put to good use! Today, for instance, Jen Johnson's class was working in the main area on Chromeboxes at the same time that Carrin Edwards's theater class utilized Chromebooks in the back room.

In fact, the banner image for this blog is a picture of Jen's class working today. If you look in the distance, you can also catch a glimpse of Carrin's students. Below is another panoramic shot taken from the vantage point of Carrin's class.

Click on the image to see it enlarged.

In terms of lessons learned with the addition of the new Chromebooks, here are a few best practices that we have discovered so far.

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Cart Wiring - For those of you with your own carts, if you notice obvious irritations when taking Chromebooks in and out of slots, then it is worth revisiting the configuration. For our particular cart, the wires were getting in the way every time a Chromebook was being put back. I refused to settle until we figured out a better way, and thanks to Jovan's student aide Scott, we did! Rather than running wires separately for each slot, we have a bundled power cords in groups of five that dangle just in reach. With the new wiring configuration, it is much faster to get the Chromebooks put away and plugged in each time. I can personally vouch for it being well worth the effort it took for rewiring.

No Cart Storage Between Periods - If you have been in the library, you may have noticed that the old reference room shelves are starting to look a little bare. This has been due to the fact that I am working on weeding the reference collection to what is most current and relevant. Any books that are worth keeping in the collection are being re-cataloged and interfiled into the regular nonfiction collection so that students may check them out and take them home. After wondering what to do with the empty shelves, there is now a purpose for at least some of them! In between class periods, when there is not enough time to charge the Chromebooks anyway, students may return them to designated and labeled shelves. With a quick glance, teachers are able to confirm that all Chromebooks have been returned. The process is much faster, and the equipment suffers less overall wear and tear.

No Class Sign-Ups for the Main Area During Periods 1 and 7 - Now that we have the option for teachers to use the Chromebooks in the back area of the library, the main area is blocked off for sign-ups during Periods 1 and 7. Why? Because the library is filled with students who do not have scheduled classes during these periods, and I want to ensure that teachers and students are able to work in an environment that is most conducive to learning. Remember that you may still reserve the Chromebooks for use in the library's back room. And, if you are ever in a pinch, I am happy to arrange exceptions during Periods 1 and 7 with the disclaimer that your students may end up dealing with more distractions than ideal.

If you are interested in signing up to visit the library or make use of the technology here, do not hesitate to contact me. I am always excited to hear from you!