The Île-de-France Region has implemented an extensive plan to provide laptops to high school students and teachers. For several months, these devices have been embraced by the beneficiaries to serve pedagogical purposes in numerous high schools in the region.
In this second episode on the subject, we went on a visit to Voilin High School in Puteaux, located in the Hauts-de-Seine department.
Voilin High School is a small-sized institution with 350 students and 36 teachers; it has followed the digital transition initiated by the Île-de-France Region almost eight years ago, as explained by Stéphane Laine, the school’s principal.
« Gradually, the Region chose to provide a mobile device for each student entering the second year; as the experimentation progressed, it was decided to equip students with 13-inch laptops.«
Moreover, it is worth noting that this massive equipment plan is accompanied by effective modernization of all digital materials present in the classrooms.
« We are currently in a phase of digital transformation; today, the second and first-year classes all have laptops. » emphasizes Samuel-Vincent Jannequin, a commerce professor at Voilin High School.
Materials, but for what uses?
Simultaneously, the arrival of these devices at Voilin High School naturally leads to new uses, with teachers generally supportive of incorporating these materials into the classroom.
« I am very supportive of using laptops in class because it allows, notably, to practice differentiation with beginners as well as with students who are fluent in English, for example. » explains Julia Flacelière, an English teacher.
The laptop proves to be a tool to escape the boredom that can quickly take over the classroom, as well as a motivating factor for students with varying skill levels.
« I have noticed that even the ‘weaker’ students enjoy challenging themselves to reach a higher level; in this case, the use of laptops clearly elevates their performance. » adds our English teacher.
With the use of laptops, we manage to conduct classes under good conditions.
Julia Flacelière
For Jean-Ritchy Therneus, an economics and management teacher, the ability to create workspaces in the classroom was particularly intriguing with the arrival of laptops.
« With laptops, we can create workspaces that promote group work and bring students closer to the professional context. » he explains.
Taming the tool and making it efficient in each subject
The use of laptops by students for learning purposes is not innate, so it is necessary to guide them in this practice, adding an « additional » mission to the teacher.
« I explain to them that they need to create a folder for each subject and then create subfolders for lessons to stay organized… Things that we think students have mastered but actually not at all. » emphasizes Julia Flacelière.
« Students use their phones, and even with their laptops, they remain glued to their phones; guidance on using laptops is therefore essential in all subjects.«
This observation is shared by all the teachers we met at Voilin High School, like Karima Mghezzi, an economics and management teacher:
« Teaching them to use computer tools in a professional setting is something we can now approach with students thanks to the provision of laptops by the Region.«
A necessary professional practice in their field, as explained by Samuel-Vincent Jannequin, « since, tomorrow, they will have to compete with students coming out of StationF, for example, » and he adds: « if we want to train them well, we must provide them with perfect tools.«
From the students’ perspective, once guided in their usage and taught to take care of their tools, they seem quite satisfied and, for the most part, would not go back to using paper.
It is, therefore, a success, especially for young people in professional fields where mastering digital skills is equivalent to speaking a language fluently.
« We must succeed in having young people use their laptops as naturally in class as at home, just like they do with their smartphones. » Samuel-Vincent Jannequin
More information:
LUDOMAG continued its investigations in the Île-de-France region and invites you every 15 days to discover feedback on classroom use thanks to the arrival of laptops but also all the digital resources that can be found inside; see you soon on our channel!
