So Far

Here's a quick explanation of how we've used the Chromebooks so far. We have enough Chromebooks for half of our students to use them. Other students use iPods, iPads, and occasionally laptops (when available) to access what they need, whether it is a vodcast, blog, presentation tool, or online research. Those that have use of Chromebooks use the same one every day. They log in with their profile, and are instantly signed into their Google Docs account and other personalized settings that they've set up (some have gotten creative with their own Google Chrome theme - I've noticed that there are a few Justin Bieber fans among our 8th grade students). Those without Chromebooks still use the paper unit packets. Those with the Chromebooks use online packets that we've uploaded, converted, and modified on Google Docs. Here's an example - Meteorology 3.

• Getting the Google Doc: Each Chromebooker opens the Google Doc packet from a link on our blog, and then "makes a copy" in order to modify their own. The students drag this new packet to a Docs "Collection" that is shared with the science teacher. That way the teacher can view the student work and leave comments/feedback at any time. 
• Using the Google Doc: There are highlighted places where students should write. Every task has a bookmark to remove the need for scrolling. It's nice to have everything hyperlinked as well. Where do I find ______?" Just click on the link. There are occasions when students need to draw. To solve this problem (you can't just draw on the Google Doc), students download the Webpage Screenshot and take a picture of what they want to draw on. That shot is sent to a place where it can be cropped and annotated. Then learners save the edited photo, and upload it into their Google Doc. It's there and it's cool. There is a learning curve for the students, but they've caught on quickly so far. A few students were emotionally connected to the paper, but most now enjoy the ease of having learning packets on Google Docs.

Our Class

We've begun to use the Chromebooks. They're quite awesome. As advertised, really - the fast start-up gives our students as much work time as possible. Here's a really short explanation of what our classes are like:
We have a self-paced (kind of) Mastery Learning classroom. There are days when we all are doing the same lab or activity, which we've termed as "All-Aboard" days. We also have days in which students progress through activities at their own pace. As soon as a students has demonstrated "mastery" on a certain concept, he/she moves on to the next objective. Learning activities are grouped in organized packets that students work from. Direct instruction comes in the form of vodcasts that have been pre-casted. This frees us up to work with individual students and naturally-formed groups on a daily basis, and we are able to facilitate some of the learning that takes place. This year is the first that we've had students learning at different paces. There, of course, have been highs and lows along the way with this new (at least to us) style.