Chromebooks for the Sunshine School

By Glen Herbert 

I was delighted to deliver some Chromebooks to the Sunshine School recently. The pandemic threw a wrench into so many things and our Chromebook program was one of them. Global demand for the devices skyrocketed with the move to learning online, and supply chains were disrupted. So, for a time there weren’t any of the kind we source to be had. They are Dell devices, built to withstand enthusiastic use, and meeting the electricity requirements of the region. But, we’re back in business! We’ll look to getting more of these into learners hands thanks to the help of our donors. 

What’s a Chromebook?

Chromebooks differ from typical laptops in that they don’t have any onboard memory; rather, they are terminals to access internet applications. So, while you can’t install programs, given the wealth of online resources available, there isn’t really much need to. Students can use Google Drive (typing up essays, making slideshows, using spreadsheets, doing some graphic designing, etc.) and other internet-based programs (Dreambox; Raz Kids; Starfall). You can print from a Chromebook as well. Some literacy and numeracy resources are paid products, though very many are free. Raz Kids is a particularly good one—it’s a levelled reading resource that includes 100s of ebooks. 

Some of the advantages of Chromebooks are their speed (they start up in a few seconds since it’s not loading installed programs), their price, and that they are very low maintenance–Chromebooks update themselves so you don’t need technicians to service them). 

The Chromebooks at the Sunshine School will augment the reading and numeracy programs, allowing kids to access reading materials, math games and tutorials, and to create their own documents and presentations. They’ll be able to research people and places that are of interest to them, and then to share what they learn with others in their own online space. And, they’re kind of fun, so are another tool that teachers can use to engage their students. Win, win, win. 

We are looking for people interested in sponsoring the purchase of Chromebooks to be used in schools on Bequia. For more information on the program, the rationale, and the need, you can reach out to me at glen.herbert@grenadinesinitiative.ca