After delay, Chromebooks to be delivered to Mission CISD students in January

Source: The Monitor, McAllen, TexasDec.自存倉 24--MISSION -- Christmas is coming late for students in the Mission Consolidated Independent School District.Before the end of January, the Mission district will hand out Chromebooks to select students and staff in the district, including all students at Mission Collegiate High School, freshmen at Mission High School and Veterans Memorial High School, and sixth-graders at K. White Jr. High School.The devices are part of the district's new "1 to 1" -- or mobile device -- initiative, which involves the use of technology for students and teachers to engage the "digital generation," district Superintendent Ricardo Lopez said."This is our first initiative that gives us continuity and consistency in instructional resources," Lopez said. "Before, technology used to be a campus decision. This will act as a tool for the students ... . Purchasing them just made sense."Lopez said Mission CISD observed other districts implement similar technology programs, including McAllen ISD's iPad initiative.Mission CISD conducted studies to conclude what product would suit the district, eventually settling with a Samsung Chromebook.A Samsung Chromebook retails at $250, which makes it less expensive than an iPad or laptop. The district ordered 1,843 Chromebooks total, costing $462,150 total, according to a news release from district spokesman Craig Verley.The district selected a Chromebook versus other computer and tablet models because of the features it provides, Lopez said.A Chromebook is unlike traditional laptops because it runs on the Google Chrome Operating System. It is designed to be used with Internet access, and instead of allowing for traditional applications to be 迷你倉ownloaded, it only allows for Google applications.Each student will only be able to access their Gmail account through the Chromebook, which provides a free calendar, Google document and PowerPoint programs, and cloud storage. The cloud storage allows students to save their word documents or PowerPoint files on their Google account from their Chromebook with the ability to access it on any computer or tablet through the Internet.The Chromebooks also allow for Children's Internet Protection Act compliance, which means students will not be able to access harmful, obscene or inappropriate websites when they are connected to the Internet, according to the news release.There are more than 15 universities and school districts that supply students with Chromebooks, according to the Google Chromebook website.District officials originally planned to unveil the Chromebooks before Thanksgiving, but there was a delay in receiving wireless access equipment with the school, Lopez said. The district wanted to ensure they had the correct infrastructure to handle the laptops before unveiling the Chromebooks to the students and teachers.This is just the beginning of the initiative, Lopez said. The district plans to provide computers to every incoming freshman and will allow them to keep the laptop until they graduate, unless they leave the district."This will help get the kids thinking on a different level," said school board President Oscar Martinez. "We want the best for our students ... . We feel this is a good step in that direction."ddiaz@themonitor.comCopyright: ___ (c)2013 The Monitor (McAllen, Texas) Visit The Monitor (McAllen, Texas) at .themonitor.com Distributed by MCT Information Servicesmini storage