- Sedalia School District 200
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TREC connects all students to technology
Among the changes at Smith-Cotton High School to start this school year is TREC, a program that provides a Chromebook to every student.
TREC is a 1:1 initiative, means that there is one electronic device for every student. TREC stands for Transform, Reach, Elevate and Connect, and is the process to transform and reach every student to elevate and connect their learning, according to Ashley Raetz, S-C instructional technology coach.
Students are allowed to take the Chromebook they were issued home. The student Chromebooks have the same filters and plugins as the ones used in the district so certain websites will be blocked, even at home. Chromebooks will be returned when the students leave for summer break and the same Chromebook will be reissued to them on the first day of the next school year. When students graduate, their Chromebooks remain school property. There is no plan for students to be able to purchase their Chromebooks once they graduate, Raetz said.
“One of the biggest perks of giving each student their own device, is that it places all students on an even level playing field, by providing the resources for those students who may not have it at home,” Raetz said.
Freshman Alyssa Gear likes that she can take her Chromebook home with her.
“I like the idea of having a Chromebook; it’s better than carrying textbooks, but I don’t like the responsibility of carrying it around all day,” she said.
Sedalia 200 Assistant Superintendent Dr. Todd Fraley said, “We wanted to introduce students to a more online learning platform because most colleges use similar programs and we wanted to give our students a head start.”
Both Fraley and Raetz agree that supplying each student with a Chromebook will give students more educational resources.
“It allows students to be both creators of information as well as consumers of knowledge,” Fraley said.
National Honor Society is selling Chromebook backpacks for $20 and they are available in the library.
“I hope that students appreciate it and take pride that they have been issued a Chromebook,” said Fraley. “I hope that they use it responsibly and maturely.”
“We are continuing to grow and learn from the technology, the students and the staff. We are excited to see where this TREC journey will take us next,” Raetz said.