As AI makes waves across all facets of life and industry, integrating this powerful technology into our lives can feel daunting. But forward-looking leaders, like those at New Jersey’s Hillsborough Township Public Schools, are embracing AI by placing cutting-edge technology in the hands of educators and supporting them with professional development.
With the help of strategic partners Lenovo, Intel, and Google, and guidance from the Trafera Professional Development team, Hillsborough teachers, instructional technology coaches, and administrators have begun using Lenovo Chromebook Plus devices powered by Intel® Core™ i5 processors and with Gemini for Google Workspace to maximize their daily workflow.
Pilot participants were very positive about their new work devices. Perhaps most important to them is the power of the Lenovo Chromebook Plus. “Having the Intel Core i5 in our devices has allowed teachers to be able to do a lot on their Chromebook Plus simultaneously. Having that kind of a powerful processor allows teachers to open multiple windows at the same time so they can be running their grades or other programs all while projecting their screen for the class.” In addition, the Intel Core i5 processor provides Hillsborough educators with up to 10hrs of battery life, up to double the memory and storage compared to previous generations, and crystal clear video calls with AI-powered tools to improve quality and speed.
The right technology for educators
Hillsborough Township, just a few miles north of Princeton, is a vibrant educational community with over 7,000 students and about 1,000 employees. The leaders at Hillsborough are always searching for more effective ways to support educators. Shifting teachers and administrators to the AI-enabled Lenovo Chromebook Plus and engaging in the pilot was an effort to do just that.
Hillsborough has had a 1:1 student Chromebook program for the past ten years. Joel Handler, Director of Technology for the district, explained, “Students have always had Chromebooks…and staff have always had other devices. And what we decided to do this year was to explore what would the environment be like if we moved staff to having Chromebooks, just like their students.”
Shifting district educators to the ChromeOS has streamlined teachers’ technology engagement with students and the technology department’s device fleet management. “Having the same operating system for both students and staff has really simplified the IT support experience,” says Handler. And teachers are more confident using the operation system their students also learn with:
- 44% – post-pilot increase in educators’ familiarity with ChromeOS, the Chrome operating system.
- 100% – percentage of pilot participants who feel confident using Google Workspace for Education to increase student engagement.
The Lenovo Chromebook Plus possesses multiple features that made it the right device choice for educators in Hillsborough:
- Longer battery life
- A highly responsive 14” touchscreen
- tablet mode capability
- AI-driven accessibility features
- Premium design materials, audio, and video
Pilot participants were very positive about their new work devices. Perhaps most important to them is the power of the Lenovo Chromebook Plus. “Having the Intel Core i5 processor in our devices has allowed teachers to be able to do a lot on their Chromebook Plus simultaneously. Having that kind of a powerful processor allows teachers to open multiple windows at the same time so they can be running their grades or other programs all while projecting their screen for the class.”
Embracing the possibilities of AI
In addition to the AI capabilities of their devices, pilot participants were also empowered with AI through the Gemini integration with Google Workspace for Education. These tools proved to be game changing for teachers, administrators, and instructional coaches to increase productivity, streamline communication, and assist with planning.
“Using Gemini [for Google Workspace] saved me a ton of time as a teacher,” explained veteran teacher and coach Daynon Blevins, “Whether it’s the grading process and getting feedback to students, or assisting me in conferencing with them, or creating activities for lesson plans.”
Blevins’ colleagues clearly agreed as the post-pilot survey results indicate:
- 95% – post-pilot increase in teachers’ comfort level using AI to personalize learning experiences.
- 75% – percentage of participants who experienced an increase in their innovation and creativity and now understand the positive impact of AI.
- 90% – percentage of teacher participants who said Gemini for Google Workspace increased their personal productivity with instructional planning and personalization.
- 80% – percentage of teacher participants who said Gemini for Google Workspace increased their personal productivity with email and communication.
Supporting Innovation with Professional Development
While choosing the right device and empowering teachers with innovative AI tools is important for innovation, the critical piece of the puzzle is having a great professional development partner. Trafera, Lenovo, and Hillsborough were all committed to a sustained professional development effort, making sure that teachers’ ed tech training was continuous and collaborative throughout the pilot. This goal aligned perfectly with the approach of the Trafera Professional Development Team, who take an educator-centered approach and tailor their PD based on need and context.
“Trafera’s professional development team is incredibly passionate,” says Trafera Teaching and Learning Consultant John Hill, “and it’s made up of educators with many years of experience. So, when we come in to start doing professional development on any topic that we work with schools on, it’s a collaboration from the very beginning.”
Hill led both in-person and virtual professional development workshops to help teachers, administrators, and instructional technology coaches become more confident in using their Chromebook Plus devices as well as Gemini for Google Workspace. With a strong and well-supported professional development experience, Hillsborough administrators were pleased with the journey the pilot team went on.
- 23% – increase in administrators and instructional technology coaches’ ability to provide coaching and feedback on classroom tech integration due to professional development with Trafera.
“Having partners like these has been really vital,” shared Handler, “because they can show us what these tools can do, and how to use those tools effectively. Working with Lenovo and Trafera has been a real asset to the district.”
Ultimately, the educators at Hillsborough see embracing new technologies as part of their greater goal of creating the best teaching environment possible.
“We want to make sure that our most precious resource, our children, are prepared to be, valuable, productive citizens,” said Kim Feltre, Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction at Hillsborough. “Educators need to have the best tools so that they can provide the best learning experiences for our students, so that we can best prepare our students to be critical thinkers and problem solvers.”
