Tech initiative starts with laptop distribution at JMS, RMS in October

Students in sixth grade at Jefferson Middle School and seventh grade at Robertsville Middle School will receive Lenovo laptops in October. It’s the first phase of the Oak Ridge Schools’ AccessOR digital technology initiative and the initial student device rollout.

Here are some specific plans, according to Oak Ridge Schools:

• Students will be receiving the Lenovo Yoga 11e as well as a charger, protective sleeve, and insurance for each device. Lenovo calls the Yoga 11e a convertible laptop or durable multimode laptop that can be used as a laptop, tablet, tent, or stand.
• The laptops will be etched with the Oak Ridge Schools’ logo and address.
• The initial October rollout will include the sixth grade at Jefferson Middle School and the seventh grade at Robertsville Middle School. The choice of these grade levels came about from principals discussing the opportunity with their staffs, and it benefits Oak Ridge Schools as a whole to have teachers building out and sharing digital curricula in two grade levels.
• The orientation/device distribution will take place from 5-8 p.m. October 20 at Robertsville Middle School and October 22 at Jefferson Middle School.
• The kick-off will include:
  • policy/procedures/insurance discussion from school administrators,
  • digital citizenship talk from teachers about creating safe online environments for students,
  • device registration and roll out,
  • device testing with support of school staff, and
  • a question and answer session.
• Students and parents will receive and sign a procedures and expectations document before receiving a device.
• After learning from the initial rollout, Oak Ridge Schools plan to distribute devices to the rest of the middle school grade levels after winter break.

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