Chromebook use: It’s a matter of trust for teachers

Children should not be playing video games on their school-issued Chromebooks during classtime, regardless how fun it may be to play video games.

Once in fourth grade at Patrick M. Villano School, the Emerson Board of Education gives students a laptop. While some students play video games during free time and after school, others take advantage of the gift and play during class lessons. They must stop this terrible habit so they can learn in school and succeed in life. Some students who play video games unrelated to class lesson don’t do well on quizzes or tests becaause they are missing important information during review sessions. Some teachers are not interested in using the camera available on the Chromebooks to monitor students’ use, however.

“I kind of feel we trust students to be doing their work on their chromebooks. That is why we don’t have access to student chromebooks,” fifth grade teacher Mrs. Gallucci said.

“I trust my students, and make them sit somewhere I can see them when they are on the chromebooks,” fourth grade teacher Mrs. Doran said.

Other teachers think being able to closely monitor students’ computer use is a good idea.

“I think it would be cool really to see everyone’s Chromebook from my Chromebook, and I can hold them accountable during their work on chromebook,” third grade teacher Mrs. Knaack said.

Some students are responsible and do not to play video games on their Chromebooks during instruction time. They know that it is wrong. Other students think that they can get away with it, but in the end, they are just hurting themselves.