Chromebook laptops have been distributed to all students from P3 to P6 to help them with in-person and remote learning.

The Ministry of Education said the devices, given out during the week starting September 13, were also distributed to two P1 teachers – one at Elliot Primary School in Devonshire and another at Purvis Primary School in Warwick.

The provision of the Chromebooks was made possible through a donation from the Hasso Plattner Foundation, an international foundation focused on accelerating the adoption of digital technologies through science and education.

Diallo Rabain, the Minister of Education, said: “A Chromebook is assigned to a student for the duration of the time that they spend at the primary school level. It is to be used for in-person learning; during remote learning; and for assignments that are to be completed at home. The Chromebook may also be used during summer learning programmes.”

Mr Rabain said that teachers had been offered professional development Schoology, a distance learning management system and its Blended Leaning Programme over the summer period.

“Students are also expected to log on to Schoology each morning and it is the department’s goal for every Bermuda public school system teacher to become highly skilled in the use of Schoology,” Mr Rabain said.

Blended learning comprises in-person learning, online learning and independent study time.

Mr Rabain added: “In a blended learning setting or hybrid classroom, students shift away from the traditional classroom and begin to focus on how the technology can enhance the learning.”

He said that students must use their Chromebooks responsibly by handling and storing them with care while parents and guardians were required to sign a contract before the computers were issued.

Measures have been put in place to ensure proper and safe use of the technology.

Mr Rabain explained: “While the use of technology brings certain advantages, there are also disadvantages that are possible as well. To combat inappropriate use of the Chromebooks and to protect our students, our IT team has implemented necessary systems, which are able to monitor the daily use of approved websites and use web-based tools to block sites that are not approved.”

He encouraged further donors to “invest in Bermuda’s future, our youth”, and thanked the Department of Education’s IT team for the procurement, delivery and maintenance of the devices.

Parents and guardians in need of technical support can call the IT department on 278-3395 or e-mail help@moed.bm