As I did
my research on the technology found at César E. Chávez Elementary, I was told
by many teachers and faculty about their strong need for better technology in
their classrooms, and for the school as a whole. Only a couple of the teachers K-5 have a
student computer in their classrooms. One teacher that I chatted briefly with
talked about how she had to collect old, throw away parts of different
computers in order to have a computer in her class for her students to use.
The rest of the school has to schedule time periods to
use the one computer lab, which is full of computers that are 7+ years old,
even though the building is only five years old. Unfortunately, since the
computer lab is on the second floor of the building, the kindergarten and first
grade students are not allowed access to the lab, as it goes against fire code
for our youngest César Chávez students to be above the first floor. This means
that any kindergarten or first grade teacher has to schedule a time period to
use on of the six movable laptop carts in order for their children to even have
access to computers. The laptops on the cart are also old, so many of the
teachers do not even bother with them. Since the students are not using
technology consistently in the classroom, they are not encouraged to bring
their own devices to school.
Thankfully, many of the teachers do have very functional
computers, projectors, and even document cameras, due to phase one of the
school improvement plan. My own cooperating teacher uses her document camera
and projector daily. Her
computer and projector are linked, so she is able to show the students her
educational videos and websites from her computer.
Even though much of the technology at César Chávez
Elementary and Grand Rapids Public Schools as a whole is lacking, there is a
current bond proposal in the works to have the entire technology system
updated. The vote for this bond happens in November, and I have no doubts that
the bond will be passed, as the last two bond proposals and improvement plan phases
have been accepted and executed perfectly. According to their instructional technology
plan, GRPS values technology integration, growth, and competency for their
students and faculty, and many of the steps in their plan for staff
professional development have already occurred. For more information about the
upcoming bond, you can watch this quick video, or visit the GRPS site http://www.grps.org/bond-proposal.
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