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Chrome Schooling
It’s not quite a stocking stuffer, but some Windsor families received a device to help with their child’s learning.

The district has sent home Chromebooks to families with UPK students engaged in remote learning. The district also trained those families on the devices.


“Some of our tips included monitoring the child’s screen time, putting them in a central location, checking the search history on the Chromebook. 20-60 minutes is really the maximum screen time a pre-k student should have, including television,” said Emily Koval, Instructional Support Specialist with Instructional Technology with Broome-Tioga BOCES.

Even with screen-time limits, one reason the district wanted to distribute Chromebooks to remote UPK families was to level the playing field.
“(Remote teacher) Mrs. Doolittle would have Zooms with the students and we saw some were using phones, some had different devices. It was an equity issue,” said Bell Elementary principal Lorrie Hulbert.

Another reason is to get the students and families familiar with the Seesaw classroom app. This app will house much of the student’s work and assignments through third grade.

“We had family complete an activity like their child would. We focused on tools that the students will specifically use within Seesaw like the microphone and camera,” said Koval. “Seesaw is one place to have all of the resources: their learning calendar, links to activities, direct links to Zoom. So, instead of the family having to go to their email, the child can go to their see saw account and access what they need.”

In addition to the training, the district also reviewed the Windsor Chromebook guidelines, including rules, responsibilities, and aspects of digital citizenship.