After weeks of speculation and a delivery postponement to second semester, the Dell Chromebook 11s have finally arrived.

Many students are curious to see how the Dare County Schools’ Digital Learning Initiative will impact the school and affect their ongoing classes.

“I think that having work online is a good thing because it can be accessed through laptops or smartphones whenever it’s most convenient for us as students,” senior Rachel Zuhars said. “However, I feel like having more work online can be difficult for students who are hands-on or verbal learners, versus just visual learners.”

Junior Shontel Ayers believes that one-to-one will be a big change because students and teachers will have to adapt to a new program and technology.

“I feel like this new program is going to be a trial-and-error type of situation, with this being the first time using laptops with the one to one program there will be kinks to work out,” Ayers said. “I think that this is a good idea and I am interested to see the outcome after a semester.”

Junior Claire Crawford understands the positive impact for some students, but she doesn’t believe the change will personally benefit her learning in the classroom.

“I think it will affect my learning ability in some of my harder classes,” Crawford said. “I think that it’s a great idea for people who want this change to occur, but for the other percentage of students I think it will take a turn for lower grades and less teacher-to-student help.”

According to the parent letter sent home to students by the school, before students can receive their individual devices there are a few tasks that parents and students must check off their list.

All students and parents must watch an orientation video and be familiar with Dare County Schools Policy Code: 3230-R that can be viewed on the district website. Both parents and students must sign the Student/Parent Laptop Agreement Forms that were sent home with students and pay the $12.50 insurance fee if students desire to have off-campus use.

For students to officially receive their laptop, they must fulfill one of the following requirements: the student must bring the required form and money during any three lunches or during Empower time on Jan. 8, Jan. 9, or Jan. 12. Cash and checks will be accepted, but checks must include name, physical address and telephone number. After these requirements are completed, devices will be distributed to students on Thursday, Jan.15 and Friday, Jan.16.

To view the full list of requirements, necessary paperwork and additional information for receiving a Dell Chromebook 11, click HERE. Media Center Coordinator Susan McFarlane also answer student questions for The Nighthawk Report on Friday, Jan. 9, which can be viewed on the Nighthawk Report site.

The digital learning initiative marks a change toward a technology-focused learning environment for Dare County schools.

“I think the switch will have a bigger impact on the underclassmen, because they’re the ones who will have to adjust to more online work for a longer period of time,” Zuhars said. “I think that as long as students and teachers work together to reach a balance of assigned work, the one to one program could really benefit our school.”

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