Chromebooks are inadequate for a growing number of LHS and CTEi courses. Students should be provided with better technology than a Chromebook. If not, they should be allowed to use personal computers through a controlled and approved process.
As a senior at Leominster High School and in CTEi’s Honors Electronics program, I‘ve spent years adapting to our district’s technology policies – especially the now-familiar Chromebooks. They’re light, portable, and semi-reliable for basic schoolwork. However, as classes grow more advanced and digital learning becomes more complex, one truth has become hard to ignore: Chromebooks simply can’t keep up with our curriculum anymore.
For many students, especially those in higher-level or technical courses, the restrictions on the school-issued devices limit our learning. Certain applications used in computer science, engineering, and other technical classes do not run properly on a Chromebook or can’t run at all. Web-based alternatives often lag, crash, or strip away critical features. These limitations make it difficult for some of us to complete assignments effectively due to the lack of technical capabilities.
Take my current classes as examples. I am taking three periods of Honors Electronics, where I learn advanced electronics, 3D CAD, and circuit design. I also have an additional period of AP Computer Science on a virtual platform. The CAD program we use, OnShape, is a cloud-based CAD. This means that we can access our work through the web from any device, including a Chromebook. The problem is that OnShape files cause the Chromebook to slow down or crash. Even the 3D design for our 18-inch robot for SkillsUSA will not run in OnShape on my school Chromebook without causing extreme instances of lag.
In my AP Computer class, we use a code editor called Eclipse. This software can not run on a Chromebook, only on Windows or Mac.
Many of my fellow students, over 100 members of the senior class, have experienced similar situations where a program won’t run on Chromebooks, a required website or application is blocked, or the Chromebooks are not stable and crash too often.
Many of us have tried workaround solutions. One such solution is for students to use their Chromebook in school to complete as much work as possible, and then transition to their personal or family laptop at home to finish everything else. This makes it much more complicated to track and complete homework. It also means that even if students have class time during the day to finish work, they can’t always use it, leading to more evening homework and added stress. Workarounds like this are not a good solution.
LHS and CTEi can solve this problem with a two-phased solution. In Phase 1, we should establish a permission-based system where students in specific approved classes and programs could register their personal devices for use in school, connected to the school network to enforce security. Many districts already do this successfully, including the Wachusett Regional School District.
In Phase 2, LHS and CTEi should evaluate the applications, websites, and computing power requirements of each class curriculum and determine where Chromebooks would be an insufficient technical solution. A simple survey of the student body will quickly identify areas that need to be addressed.
With this data in hand, we can use Chromebooks in accordance with Leominster Public School policy, while still ensuring students the right computer equipment for advanced coding, electronics, theatre, dual enrollment, and other STEM classes.
