As part of the district’s 1:1 technology initiative, sixth-graders at Prodell Middle School are utilizing state of the art Chromebooks to enhance their educational learning experience.

A recent lesson with middle school librarian Ann Marie Kalin taught them the use of Padlet, a web-based tool that allows them to share documents, ideas, photographs or other visuals to a collaborative online board and Glogster, which combines images, graphics, audio, video and text in a digital canvas. They shared book reviews with both tools.

Students in Nicole Pletka’s class used the Virtual Reference Center to collect data on various landforms, including the Grand Canyon, Indian Ocean and Panama Canal, and then utilized Padlet to present facts learned, including images and video clips. Their work was then posted to the Google Classroom to share with and learn from classmates.

All sixth-graders are also practicing their skills using NoodleTools, a bibliography and note-taking tool through the Virtual Reference Center, to generate bibliographies of all the books they read this year.

The district’s ongoing technology initiative helps students obtain the skills needed in the ever-changing digital era. Using Chromebooks helps them gain a sense of independence in their schoolwork.

“It is easy to work with,” said student Nick Worthington. “I like that I can bring it home and still be able to have my work with me,” he noted as one of the benefits the product offers as students are able to have constant access to school assignments both in school and at home.