The Rumors
Rumors of a district wide personal computer ban have sparked confusion across the school.
This affects many students across the district, as many students use a personal computer instead of the Chromebook provided by Berkley schools. Theresa Solomon, an upset and confused MacBook user, believes it is useless. “I think it’s pointless, if you’re taking a test that you need to have a Chromebook for, then you can just go to the library and get a computer.” Freshman student, Natalie Kreiner, “I got a MacBook specifically for high school; Chromebooks are slow and harder to work with.” From the students’ point of view, a ban on personal computer usage is unnecessary.
The Reality
Despite student concerns, school officials clarify that no ban is actually planned. ” Principal Meloche states, ‘There’s no personal computer ban, but what I need everyone to do is to bring their Berkley device.’ ” Teachers have the say on when it’s the appropriate time to use a district device, ” Principle Meloche says, “Teachers can use certain functionalities in the classroom, like lockdown browsers for tests or activities.” While Chromebooks come with lockdown browser capabilities, similar software can be installed on personal devices. He also states, “Personally, I wouldn’t want to carry two devices around, but if some people want to, I get that.” There are reasons why a personal computer may be inconvenient, teachers can’t view your screen and carrying two computers is unsuitable. A school-issued Chromebook is purely for cybersecurity features and protecting students’ privacy. According to Principle Meloche, a Chromebook requirement will not be put in place, but the idea of students using a school-issued Chromebook is ideal.
From a teacher’s point of view, things may look different. Mrs. Walters, who teaches Honors English 9 and 11th-grade English, said “I think that requiring students to use only their district devices and not personal devices could be beneficial in some instances, particularly considering the ability for teachers to use lock-down browsers on district devices during testing.” However, Walters states, “It doesn’t really affect me personally because I don’t often require students to use laptops, and I rarely give digital tests.” Depending on the teacher and their subject, their opinions on what computer students use for work may differ.
School officials have confirmed that the rumors are unfounded, and personal computer usage remains permitted. However, administrators are reminding students to stay safe and exercise responsible digital behavior, especially since it can be more difficult for teachers to monitor screen activity during class.
