Tuesday 9 February 2016

Northland to pilot CIH Chromebook programme

2016 is set to be an incredibly exciting year for Computers in Homes in Northland.  The 2020 Trust is collaborating with the Taitokerau Education Trust and Te Puawai e-Learning Cluster to provide training for parents in Chromebooks.

The Chromebook is designed to be used primarily whilst connected to the Internet, with most applications and data residing "in the Cloud”.  Its cost, long battery life and functionality have made it the platform of choice for many students, schools and homes. 

Whilst there is still a place for pen and paper in schools, technology will only continue to advance.  It’s important that children don’t get left behind.  Digital literacy is never going to be any less important than what it is now.  Embracing change shows our tamariki that change is good and it empowers them to move forward in their education. 

Internet access in a classroom (provided it's a safe and monitored experience) gives kids the opportunity to expand beyond the boundaries of what they'd find in a textbook.

Using Chromebooks in the classroom will allow teachers to adapt to different learning styles, make learning more flexible, create excitement in learning for the kids and prepare them for the future.

Seven schools in Whangarei will participate in the Chromebook pilot this year.  Six are from the Te Puawai Cluster, and another is also keen to be involved as they use Chromebooks within their classrooms too.

I look forward to posting updates to my blog, showing the fabulous parents who undertake our training and their stories of achievement.  Watch this space!....