Members of the fixed assets and technology departments of Mission CISD (Consolidated Independent School District) are working furiously to process thousands of computers as the district’s technology initiative expands this school year. Over 4,200 Chromebook computers and tablet computers were ordered over the summer.
The district’s Chromebook initiative began last school year with the freshmen classes at the high schools and the sixth grade at K. White Jr. High School. The goal at that time was to expand a grade level at each of those schools each year. A positive response to this pilot program resulted in the decision to expand the program to include all four Mission CISD junior high schools. In each case, it will begin with one grade level, and then expand to include all grade levels at the junior highs. Once completed, all students in grades 6-12 will be a part of the program.
In the elementary schools, each classroom in grades K-2 will receive five tablet computers to use in their rooms as tools as the students work through activity stations. Grades 3-5 will have access to a couple of campus class sets of Chromebook computers on wheels.
“When we stepped back and looked at things, it made more sense to us to try and begin to implement the use of tablet computers with the younger students,” explained Ricardo López, superintendent. “It meshes better with the more tactile approach that is more beneficial to how the younger students learn. They can use their fingers to move things around on the screens; things like that work better than manipulating something on a computer monitor through a mouse.” López said the Chromebooks become better overall tools for learning and research as students get older.
So far, Mission CISD has invested over $1.2 million in Chromebooks and tablet computers for use this school year. Over 1,800 Chromebooks were purchased and distributed last school years as a part of the district’s initial trial of the laptops.
Pictured are stacks of Chromebook computers as they are processed into the district by members of the Mission CISD fixed assets department.
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