Quest Academy Boosting Its Chromebook Device Program To Incorporate Lower Grades
Palatine, IL - This week, Quest Academy in Palatine approved the extension of its 1:1 Chromebook pilot program to third grade, adding two new grades, and giving most every student access to knowledge through the popular Chromebook device, made popular by Google and its Google Apps for Education. The Chromebook has slowly become one of the most sought-after education devices, and this Spring alone sees the introduction of many new Chromebook devices to the market, created specifically for education. Google Chrome is Google's browser/operating system that combines many of their apps like Docs, Sites, Sheets, and Slides among hundreds of other third-party apps and extensions.
So, what's the benefit of a Chromebook environment?
"One of the things you notice immediately with Chromebooks, is the "instant-on" factor. So much of class time with typical laptops or traditional devices is spent opening the device, logging on, waiting for the operating system to load up. With Chromebooks, you hear teachers herald how easy it is to get creating. Just open- and go! When you add up all the class time saved over the year, it's probably 12 to 14 class periods. That time is golden for a classroom teacher. That's not even getting started on the multitude of creative opportunities it opens up," says Daniel Rezac, Director of Academic Technology for Quest Academy.
Chromebooks are becoming a mainstay in many Chicago-area school districts such as Maine Township District 207, Lake Forest SD 67, and East Leyden High School. Technology administrators love how manageable they are in an education environment, and teachers enjoy how easy it is to collaborate using Google Apps. Google has its own Chrome Web Store for education, which includes hundreds of apps and extensions, many of which don't require the Internet at all. Local educator Amanda Pelsor, Instructional Technology Coach at Park Ridge-Niles SD 64 says,
"Having Chromebooks in the hands of all of our students has created ubiquitous access to a world of possibilities and opportunities. It is a tool that has helped our teachers get a better understanding of where our students are and better meet their needs to improve growth."
And Quest Academy fifth grade teacher, Laura Nadeau says,
"The move from one-to-one laptops to Chromebooks has dramatically increased not only the speed and ease of information gathering and sharing, but also the creativity and enthusiasm that students bring to their assignments."
Nationally, Chromebooks are also starting to make a dent in the PC market, pushing creativity and collaboration as an integrated part of everyday classroom activities. Google Apps for Education Summits have probably made it to your city or state at this point, which feature Google for Education experts on all things Googly. Sean Williams, an Innovation Strategist for Riverdale School District in Oregon, sums Chromebooks up this way:
"For me, it's zero to web in 8 seconds."
At Quest Academy, innovation and creativity continue to thrive.
About Quest Academy
Founded in 1982, Quest Academy currently serves more than 300 students from throughout the Chicago area, with a faculty and administration of 55. Quest Academy, an independent day school for children from preschool through eighth grade, admits students who show evidence of exceptional intellectual capability. By providing these gifted students with a rich, rigorous and differentiated curriculum, Quest prepares them for competitive higher education programs and productive professional careers while inspiring a lifelong love of scholarship and appreciation of the arts.
To learn more about Quest Academy, visit questacademy.org.