“Mrs. Thompson, I forgot to charge my Chromebook.” We’re met with a variation of this small dilemma every morning, guaranteed. Does it help to have a well-intentioned sign reminding kids to charge at home posted somewhere of prominence in the classroom? Would I be a negative-nelly if I said, “Nope, not in the slightest?” A minor setback, at my elementary school, we’re fortunate that students can swap their device for one of my spares or use a charger in the meantime. Other than this small annoyance, I can’t think of another reason why students shouldn’t be able to bring their device home because:

There’s no competition. When students are issued their Chromebook, the device is theirs alone to use both in and outside of the classroom. At home, kids may be met with the challenge of sharing devices owned by their caregivers with siblings. This becomes especially frustrating if they have homework that must be completed on their device, and need to wait their turn.
There’s increased security. With the student’s Chromebook comes added security features that may not be in place on the devices belonging to their caregivers. Educators can feel confident that work assignments completed from home on the school-issued device will be protected by unanticipated cybersecurity threats such as malware and phishing technology. Password protections on the school device also protects against unauthorized usage. And, internet protections keep students from unintentionally stumbling on undesirable websites.
There’s ownership and commitment. When students are provided with a Chromebook, the tools to care for it, and the ongoing instruction on how to successfully use technology, they will begin to truly realize a sense of belonging. Belonging in that the device is assigned a student owner who is in charge of its care. And, belonging in that the student experiences their school’s commitment that learning doesn’t stop in the classroom. Thus creating an environment that ensures all students have an equal chance to succeed both inside and outside of the classroom.

There is still space for appreciating the importance of a classroom environment which limits technology usage. However, I acknowledge working towards a healthy balance of distinguishing school work best suited for the Chromebook, and work that is best completed without this tool.