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Jade Ramos - 10th Grade Student, Owings Mills High School
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Jade Ramos is a 10th grade student at Owings Mills High School. She is a member of the OMHS Dance Team and was also a member of her middle school’s dance team for two years. She plays the viola in her school’s orchestra and has been playing for 6 years now. She is the middle child in her family and enjoys being with her friends. Her favorite subject is American Governments because she enjoys hearing different people’s viewpoints about the same problem.
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May 2018
My school has recently just ended PARCC testing with the sophomores. We finished our English PARCC test within three days and it revolved completely around our devices. Our teachers informed us that it would be imperative we start bringing in our devices every day, fully charged if we don’t already. It was our responsibility as an entire sophomore class that we be prepared for each testing day with a fully charged and functioning device. After all, this test is a requirement in order to graduate and nobody was going to intentionally fail this test. This was one of my first times completing a test as big as PARCC on a device instead of on paper. Now I do have to say, I am a pen and paper kind of girl. But in this instance, I was so grateful that we got to use our devices. Our devices made things so much easier and faster. It gave me the opportunity to use any tools I would have been able to use if I was doing a traditional pen and paper test, so I didn’t feel like I was restricted. If I needed to highlight something, I highlighted it. If I needed to cross out the other answers that I knew were incorrect so they wouldn’t trip me up, I could do that. It even allowed me to bookmark any questions I didn’t understand so that I could go back to it without forgetting. These devices have changed the way test taking can be done. I would definitely say it is much more preferred from students as it made it easier for us to take our test, and even enjoy taking it.
My school has recently just ended PARCC testing with the sophomores. We finished our English PARCC test within three days and it revolved completely around our devices. Our teachers informed us that it would be imperative we start bringing in our devices every day, fully charged if we don’t already. It was our responsibility as an entire sophomore class that we be prepared for each testing day with a fully charged and functioning device. After all, this test is a requirement in order to graduate and nobody was going to intentionally fail this test. This was one of my first times completing a test as big as PARCC on a device instead of on paper. Now I do have to say, I am a pen and paper kind of girl. But in this instance, I was so grateful that we got to use our devices. Our devices made things so much easier and faster. It gave me the opportunity to use any tools I would have been able to use if I was doing a traditional pen and paper test, so I didn’t feel like I was restricted. If I needed to highlight something, I highlighted it. If I needed to cross out the other answers that I knew were incorrect so they wouldn’t trip me up, I could do that. It even allowed me to bookmark any questions I didn’t understand so that I could go back to it without forgetting. These devices have changed the way test taking can be done. I would definitely say it is much more preferred from students as it made it easier for us to take our test, and even enjoy taking it.
November 2017
This past quarter has been full of change. My freshman year was all about adjusting and really making a comfortable transition from middle school to high school. Now that I have had a year to adapt to everything, I am now expected to have a larger and more rigorous workload. I have taken on two AP classes this year. These classes would include AP Human Geography and AP World History. I would definitely say that these two classes are some of the most challenging classes on my schedule. There is a lot of note taking, projects, and worksheets required for each class. This is where my device comes in. My teachers require our devices to be brought into class every day, fully charged. It is important that we do so because without our devices we have no way of accessing articles posted on our lesson tiles, no way of accessing the handout that we are completing for the article, and no way of turning in the work. I often times find myself at home with a question about an assignment, or am in need of some reassurance about the current topic we have been learning about. Though I may become frustrated for not understanding something, I do not panic because I know that my teachers are only a message away, and within an instant I am able to understand the work. These devices have prevented my first quarter back in school from being as stressful as it could be because of the information I need is right at my fingertips.
This past quarter has been full of change. My freshman year was all about adjusting and really making a comfortable transition from middle school to high school. Now that I have had a year to adapt to everything, I am now expected to have a larger and more rigorous workload. I have taken on two AP classes this year. These classes would include AP Human Geography and AP World History. I would definitely say that these two classes are some of the most challenging classes on my schedule. There is a lot of note taking, projects, and worksheets required for each class. This is where my device comes in. My teachers require our devices to be brought into class every day, fully charged. It is important that we do so because without our devices we have no way of accessing articles posted on our lesson tiles, no way of accessing the handout that we are completing for the article, and no way of turning in the work. I often times find myself at home with a question about an assignment, or am in need of some reassurance about the current topic we have been learning about. Though I may become frustrated for not understanding something, I do not panic because I know that my teachers are only a message away, and within an instant I am able to understand the work. These devices have prevented my first quarter back in school from being as stressful as it could be because of the information I need is right at my fingertips.
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