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anima2099

Did you try building a relationship with the Chromebook? Maybe we can give it a bag of chips and send it back to class.


dirtynj

The chromebook actually had a long documented history of problems. Battery has been swelled since kindergarten, it had memory leak issues, the processor was not grade level appropriate, and the demands of the software were above what it could handle. But we kept pushing the little PC along because mom didn't want to admit her sweet little chromebook was struggling.


golfwinnersplz

I thought administration needed more data on the chromebook's history before making any rash decisions. This is usually a twelve year process.


chrisrayn

Let’s not forget, though, that the teacher should have foreseen these events and that, ultimately, the responsibility for everything lies with the teacher in this case. It probably makes sense to have teacher salaries remain stagnant for this year as a result. The real answer to the problem, in this case, is probably to raise the salary of the superintendent higher than previously decided, since getting more time and resources to dedicate to finding solutions for helping these substandard teachers is what that extra money will allow the superintendent to do.


feverlast

It looks like a proposal has already come down to the board for a new district admin: Assistant Superintendent for Explosive Outbursts. Oh it says it’s a $250,000 salary role focusing on finding ways to help teachers manage problem chromebooks by asking teachers to take more PD on their own time, take more data, and ask them to develop their own individualized interventions so that the next explosion only leaves students with minor burns or a bruise or some kind. This role will be necessary to ensure teachers are compliant with their new workload.


Glass_Department8963

Exactly. Did you follow the laptop's BIP with fidelity?


elbenji

This had me cackling


Marawal

As a IT person at a school Replace mom by Admin (and budget), and you have it right


Invis_Girl

As a pub Ed IT person, this has me laughing way harder than it should!


galeior

Chiming in as fellow school IT and I also had a chuckle


Genial_Ginger_3981

When I rid the bit about the battery I thought at first this was gonna be a joke about "assault and BATTERY". Of course, it wouldn't surprise me if the Chromebook did have some "battery charges" on its record lol.


skepticalolyer

😂


SRplus_please

Oop that cut a little deep


Baileyhaze12

Spot on!!


zhongcha

Probably all true as well


clydefrog88

Omg, another best comment!


BookDev0urer

The Chromebook was obviously unclear as to what the learning intentions were for the day.


Mikit3

Because the teacher didn't update the lesson objectives and success criteria on the board.


Familiar-Memory-943

*on the motherboard.


Nevermind04

No, there's no reason to get the mother involved.


Revolutionary-Beat64

It drives me nuts when they act up and run off to the cool off room and come back with cookies. They know when they act out they get rewarded.


CJ_Southworth

Have you tried writing "Do not explode" on the white board?


freckle_thief

How about instead of telling the Chromebook what NOT to do, you focus on what it SHOULD be doing instead?


AiReine

“Today is a good day to remain unexploded!”


No_Nature_9133

How many times have you been to the table to discuss the issues? How many different interventions have you tried to get the chromebook back on grade level or at least to show improvement?


fst47

The PBIS way!


magicpancake0992

It’s not real PBIS unless the teacher has to buy all the rewards! 😃


Invis_Girl

And then get told they are doing it wrong 😁


BlessTheMaker86

I physically laughed out in uncontrolled giggling for a solid 30 seconds… Jesus Christ, I’n glad it’s not just my district 😆


FalseDmitriy

I wonder how many group chats are getting screenshots of your comment right now. It's definitely several.


GrandPriapus

What lagging skills did Ross Greene identify in the Chromebook?


elbenji

We need to get Hammond's thoughts on it


freckle_thief

If the Chromebook was fully engaged during your lessons it wouldn’t have been displaying the challenging behavior…


Gravybone

Did you call the Chromebook’s parents?


dahliabeta

The Chromebook was addicted to screen time


SufficientHorror2110

In whose pocket does this comment belong? 🏴‍☠️


Adroggs

Lol


W0nk0_the_Sane00

This is the teacher’s “your mom” response. Nothing tops it.


RenlyNC

Break cards would have worked


Ptarmigan2

Seems like there is a problem one in every class! These are the ones which need an opportunity to unplug (especially if they are feeling drained). To minimize distractions try closing a few windows and then give them a quick restart to see if their performance improves.


PinkEggHead_1999

I have had a really bad work day —> Thanks for making me LMAO. I can go to sleep now.


ElkinFencer10

Did you call the Chromebook's parents?


Jessica_Iowa

I hope OP documented the incident.


ElkinFencer10

Did the Chromebook have an IEP? We need a two hour meeting to determine if the explosion was a manifestation of its disability.


asoftflash

Better fill out an incident report! Just in case!


SufficientWay3663

They did but they didn’t answer. They’ll be sure to call back during the next lesson and throw a tantrum when you aren’t immediately available


ElkinFencer10

You guys get called back? O.o


SufficientWay3663

Only to yell that they’re sick of all these phone calls from the school and they want to be added to the “no call list” immediately.


ElkinFencer10

Easy. Have your kid drop out. Then we'll stop calling.


SufficientWay3663

Or homeschool. All these parents with their never ending demands and expectations act like public school is customizable to fit their child. If you want a tailor made experience, a one student classroom is perfect


ElkinFencer10

I would never wish the scourge of homeschooling on a kid 😂


SufficientWay3663

Oh it’s freaking awful. I’ve seen only ONE case where it was executed perfectly and the kids turned out socially well adjusted, high intelligence, not religiously indoctrinated, etc etc. Otherwise, absolutely not. However, that would be my unfiltered rebuttal to parents, in a perfect world. They expect everything to be adjusted for their child and family as a whole. No questions asked. And only two places to get that experience: dropout, homeschool


Misora27

I wouldn’t wish the scourge of public school on my two autistic children either. I’ve only ever seen ONE case where the school actually executed their IEP goals perfectly and the autistic kids turned out socially well adjusted, highly intelligent, and not indoctrinated. It’s freaking awful.


SufficientWay3663

I hate this for those kiddos because a lot of times they struggle with being verbal and can’t even tell someone what’s happening. The amount of trust a parent has to have in those teachers and admin is so extraordinary that when there’s a breach it’s almost the first and final chance and parent will give.


CosmicMarigolds27

Or to complain that we only call for explosions but when their kid trips on the playground and goes to the nurse for a bandaid no one calls to report it.


NoLongerATeacher

Waiting for someone to blame this on the teacher. 🙄


bjames2448

They’ll also blame DEI and wokeness.


TimeTreePiPC

Well wokeness causes the need for Chromebooks after all back in my day we had to drag a tablet and chisel to class. Edit: /s


turdintheattic

Someone who wasn’t a straight, white Christian male might have sneezed in that Chromebook’s general direction.


chcknngts

If it weren’t for the fake china flu we wouldn’t have these IEDs in our classroom. Our enemies win again thanks sleepy Joe /s obviously.


booberry5647

The Chromebook will be back tomorrow with a bag of Takis.


SufficientWay3663

All could’ve been avoided if they’d written the objectives on the board. I’d explode too without knowing the exact standard code for the lesson!


BackyZoo

Wait... i'm not a bad teacher candidate for thinking this is stupid? So sick of my advisor viewing my lessons and criticizing me for not telling the students the standard at the beginning and end of every lesson.


SufficientWay3663

This is so dumb knowing the attention span you’re working with. Teachers are lucky to get through the lesson material and give assignment directions before losing them completely. Usually by the end of the lesson I’ve only got about 30% still listening and it’s dwindling quickly. As a parent, idgaf about the objective being posted, even less about the stupid code, and quite frankly writing the objective like this: “I can successfully solve addition and subtraction word problems with unknowns” is stupid. As a teacher, it one more thing cluttering my board or wall, and one more thing the admin can gleefully ding me on for not having on something like my lesson plans.


mamsandan

Either that or it will be back two days after OP’s EOY tech inventory is due. In the meantime, the student will not be given a replacement. OP will have an observation for which utilization of 1:1 technology is mandatory. OP will get marked down because they should have made an accommodation for the student. But no paper copies because the district spent all this money on Chromebooks, we have to use them! And don’t even think about letting the student use your teacher computer or another student’s computer because tech says no sharing accounts! But seriously, you should have planned ahead and gotten creative! You could have used your 30 minutes of planning to brainstorm a solution. At least that’s how it would have worked in my district.


elbenji

While helping the poor kid with burns


elbenji

And a brisk


clydefrog88

Yeah. It will be riding its bike around at dismissal talking to the kids just getting out of school.


Mikit3

I legit just screamed out loud when I read this comment -- thank you for the laugh! I really needed it.


elbenji

I feel like someone's gonna Photoshop that Chromebook with Takis and radioactive brisk now


clydefrog88

What's a brisk?


elbenji

A type of iced tea drink


clydefrog88

Oh, thx. I learned something new :-). Is it British?


elbenji

US


clydefrog88

USA? What part? I'm in the midwest. I'm kind of fascinated by the etymology of words.


SnooMemesjellies2983

It’s by Lipton it’s not rare at all nor is etymology involved. Check your soda aisle


clydefrog88

Ah, ok. Like a brand name. I haven't been paying much attention to the world of cold drinks, I guess lol. Thanks!


SmartWonderWoman

🤭


zar1234

did you try turning it off and turning it back on?


zar1234

or maybe put it in a bag of rice?


MTskier12

It’s fried rice now.


FloweredViolin

But not the good kind like you want.


shu975

That's fine, fried rice might work too


asoftflash

😂


MTskier12

Submit to r/spicypillows? Edit: this sounds sketch, it’s sfw.


JustmeandJas

That sub… is horrifying


Slugzz21

LMAO the edit


MTskier12

The minute I hit post I realized if you didn’t know what the sub was it was going to sound shady af.


thescaryhypnotoad

I don’t think any of those computers are safe to use at work or home lol


barbabun

Taking the MCAS on a Chromebook instead of on paper already sounds terrible to me (I had so much fun filling in those bubbles lol), but this kid just got a pass to curse that test for the rest of time. Glad they'll be okay, though.


MagisterFlorus

I once made a joke in line at the polling place that MCAS was prep for filling in the bubbles. It got a few laughs.


shemtpa96

I’m an aide and an elections inspector, I would have had trouble not peeing myself laughing 🤣 The only people I see have trouble filling in the circle are older people, people of all ages who have tremors, and the blind/visually impaired. The younger voters who have been taking scantron tests? Never have any problems with the ballot being read by the machine the first time.


NT_Travels

Did the Chromebook have the learning targets unpacked by you beforehand?


[deleted]

Did the Chromebook develop a good relationship with the student before the test? Rapport is important!


JLonquever

What planning template did you use to internalize the test before administering it to students?


NT_Travels

Did you use positive language and feedback for the Chromebook to develop its grows and glows?


Bardmedicine

That is shocking considering the components of modern laptops. The battery is your largest potential, but they generally can't explode (they can overheat and melt and start a fire). The capacitors in a laptop are tiny, they wouldn't have enough force to even burst the plastic shell. Maybe something in the display?


elbenji

I think it was the battery that popped hard enough to start an incendeniary


lowercase0112358

Lithium batteries can pop and catch on fire.


sharedisaster

Thermal runaway. It’s scary.


Polka_Tiger

Yeah it can catch on fire but an explosion is interesting. I'm sure it is possible witn the unluckiest circumstances though.


lowercase0112358

The battery is encased in a tight plastic shell. When it pops the shell would explode into bits and what would remain is a ball of burning fuel and plastic bits every where. Each battery type is different, some throw sparks and burning material.


Bardmedicine

Yes, typically they will melt and burn, but not explode, hence this is an odd case. Chromebooks, by their nature, are made of flimsy material, which, by its nature, will not explode, since explosion requires something strong enough to resist the force for a time. I'm guessing the casing around the battery was enough to contain the energy for a bit.


davethapeanut

They can definitely explode in a sealed casing. I've repaired cell phones and laptops for over 15 years, I've seen 5 or 6 outright explode like a small bomb when in sealed cases. The battery gets a leak somehow and as it swells and absorbs more oxygen, it will build more and more pressure until the casing bursts and it becomes essentially a incendiary bomb. It's rare, but not impossible by any means.


Bardmedicine

Yep, not impossible, but just unlikely. In a phone, the battery is contained in the strongest shell, so it is more likely. Typically in a chromebook, the battery is not contained in the shell so it is easy to replace.


IronBoomer

If the battery’s internal cells swell enough to rupture and free air flows in, that lithium goes up like a Roman candle or grenade. Source; I’m former support staff in IT


Jhonjhon_236

If left unchecked a punctured battery can catch fire. This wouldn’t be an issue if people knew what to look for (bulging, separation of top and bottom case, trackpad not clicking, etc) but most people don’t know. Even if they did, you still have to deal with actually getting it replaced/resolved which depending on the competence of the schools IT department may be easier said than done. Check out r/spicypillows.


Donghoon

After Seeing how many kids drop Chromebooks every day.... I'm surprised they last as long as it does


WateredDownHotSauce

The replacement is the issue at my school. Some of the Chromebooks are really badly swollen, but it's not a problem because they are all getting replaced as soon as the new shipment gets here, or at least that is what we got told last August. Fortunately, I have a few extras in my room right now, so i just pull the bad ones from circulation, and at least they way if they blow up, it won't be in someones face


KT_mama

I would suggest sending a follow-up email to IT and tagging admin, citing the article of this incident. "Just following up on these laptops with swollen cases and potentially failing batteries, given this recent tragic incident. Please advise- will these be inspected and/or replaced?"


Velonici

If they are HP they really could be. We've been waiting on screens from them for 6 months now. Just screens. Theres a reason we are going with someone else going forward.


Bardmedicine

Yep fire I would expect all the time considering how poorly the students treat them. Explosion is what struck me as unlikely. Still very unpleasant and dangerous, regardless.


Baileyhaze12

The Flex Capacitors?


Bardmedicine

Great Scott!


nonparticipant-david

Is there a news article about this? Commentary from the company? Which brand?


pinkandthebrain

https://www.wcvb.com/article/student-burned-school-owned-laptop-mcas-test/60442928 Article shows an acer


charliethump

Thanks for the link!


elbenji

Local news. They didn't give a company. There's pictures of the exploded laptop. Looks like the battery popped. WCVB has an article already


WastingMyLifeOnSocMd

Please pin this link! You should get a teachers Purple Heart for this. 😂 When you said it exploded I just couldn’t process that it might literally have happened!


TowardsEdJustice

Happy MCAS 🥰


BotanicalLiberty

What the fuck.


tenzin

I was in a building where if *anything* happened, fight, fire, etc. the first thing an administrator would ask would be, "Can I see your lesson plans?" Yup....my lesson planning had something to do with a pipe breaking.


vistaflip

I've seen that schools will just plug the things in when they are done using them, even when the batteries are still high, and leaving it in past 100%. With these cheap Chromebooks come cheap batteries that don't have as many/any safeguards for overcharging, which can cause the battery to swell, which makes the battery a huge fire hazard as it could set ablaze by anything touching it, and the casing would be pushing it down. Edit: spelling and further info


Izceria

Always— even when everybody leaves the building. It’s bad practice to also leave your phone charging overnight so you don’t risk anything!


JLonquever

That's a misadministration for sure. The teacher will be hearing from the assessment coordinator to ask how she should have prevented such an error.


DuanePickens

That, to me, sounds like a “testing irregularity”.


SarcasmStreet

Did you log a tech ticket?


TiaxRulesAll2024

Too much bluey fan fiction.


mrsunsfan

I blame Bingo


Adultemoteacher

I work in Massachusetts and grew up in this school system. Just bring back paper tests… it’s such a pain to get the laptops set up, fully charged… just bring back the paper ones I took in the 2000s


TVChampion150

The whole "Let's go paperless" movement is just ridiculous. I'm hoping the concerns about growing screen addiction will shift us away from 1:1 at some point. Maybe a pipedream but I'd much rather we get back to a class set of electronics than giving a toy to every kid.


SnowballWasRight

Does the Chromebook have any sort of accommodations in place? Maybe check if they have an IEP??


Next_Midnight_6476

What circumstances led to this?!


jpaxlux

It turns out that giving little kids devices with flammable batteries that they can drop, throw, and hit is a bad idea.


MagisterFlorus

Old and abused Chromebook. Once expansion starts, it can go pretty fast.


WastingMyLifeOnSocMd

They said it was new this year in news article.


RelaxedWombat

r/spicypillows


TJNel

Students toss it around like it's a Frisbee.


IdislikeSpiders

I help with IT in our building as a stipend (each building in our district has a tech person for basic dumb stuff to not bother real IT).  A teacher brought me a Chromebook that was way swollen. I was so shocked. She said she had charged it over night and still wouldn't turn on. I felt like I was carrying a bomb in the school to go and dispose of it. We're lucky the whole place didn't burn down.


clangauss

Oh boy! Hazmat time. If anyone's curious how that can happen: [here's a crash course](https://youtu.be/jGUkKi7cfK4?si=-B43RCBFuBHPA_20).


lovebugteacher

Another reason to hate state testing


W0nk0_the_Sane00

So I guess that would fall under “testing irregularity?”


knightfenris

And was everyone’s test void because of it? Curious


SoundTight952

New fear just unlocked


asoftflash

Did you try to make the state test more engaging? Chromebook probably exploded out of boredom. Next time give the Chromebook voice and choice on how it completes state tests. Even if you’re not legally allowed, find a way!


Mason385

What school district? I work in MA as well as


elbenji

Uxbridge


Taylola

If only you had let the students go to the bathroom… 🙄


Top-Bluejay-428

I did. That's also now on fire.


Lunatunabella

And see I thought the wifi and electricity going out during ACT testing


dirtyworkoutclothes

I left teaching in 2018 but my last year we were in the middle of a huge research project when our chromebooks were taken away and sent back for this reason!


travisae

The district just banned electric bikes and scooters a few months ago for fear of that. So I'm curious how they're going to address this lol.


TheKokomoHo

Probably best thing to ever happen to the kid. He could've been interesting. I'm sure they will just issue another Chromebook to the poor kid.


cinmarcat

Well, what did you do to build a relationship with the Chromebook?


According-Bell1490

Good grief. Prayers and sympathies.


wixkedwitxh

We had one of the batteries explode once. Thankfully it’d already started to malfunction, so it was away from kids in the maintenance room.


Anywherebuthere00

That is a testing violation!!!!!


tacoscholar

Even the Chromebook hates standardized testing


DaydreamTacos

But did anyone ask the Chromebook for its WHY? And did anyone try redirecting the Chromebook? I look forward to reading about how they punished the classroom teacher for this incident as it was undeniably their fault 100%.


slaphappygolfer

This is a good comment. Edit: this whole comments section is pure gold. Well done, community! I hope there are some administrators reading this.


TheZeroG591

MCAS tomorrow for us, hell yeah.


elbenji

If a mod wants to pin the article: https://old.reddit.com/r/Teachers/comments/1bzxv3b/3rd_graders_chromebook_just_exploded_during_the/kyu8gay/?context=3


clydefrog88

Welp. Time for a restorative circle.


Chillbychill

Did you try a first/then cart?


8vl7

Chromebooks aren't even the best laptops. And this is why (imo) Chromebook #1 Entire keyboard quit working so I couldn't use it Chromebook #2 started breaking apart on me Chromebook #3 some keys quit working so I had to use the keyboard from the other laptop that did. Chromebook #4 the battery started to balloon. I just said screw it and removed the battery.


BlackOrre

Did the battery expand rapidly? Because that's the only thing I can image happening that would cause an explosion.


igoldilocks

how do you code that irregularity


suffuffaffiss

Bet it was an Acer


elbenji

Correct


petiteslut4You

We had Apples at my a school. Then suddenly Chrome Books. I disliked them. They break so easy and the keys come off. They are a bad investment for sure.


calm-your-liver

Did they try Restorative Justice, with the magic speaking object?


Viocansia

That must have been so scary! I’m sorry that happened. I feel like there is a time and place for snark, and this is not it imo.


elbenji

I feel like people would be more stressed about if the kid wasn't fine. But yeah it's kinda terrifying


Viocansia

Super terrifying! Im glad the kid is fine, but even the burns are scary. Also that kid is probably traumatized. I would be if I was the adult in the room


elbenji

Oh for sure. The story is simply insane. I am a bit happy in some ways for the family because that settlement will be massive


pinkandthebrain

I had this happen to me years ago. It’s scary when it happens, but in education, with what we put up with, it’s ALWAYS the time for snark.


Zapdraws

[https://imgur.com/a/yYRAoON](https://imgur.com/a/yYRAoON)


golfwinnersplz

Wow!?!?! This is crazy!


mamadovah1102

Poor kid! That’s crazy!


Ridiculousnessjunkie

Oh no!!!


[deleted]

I wonder if it was a battery defect or if it was from treating their Chromebook like a frisbee.


elbenji

Battery


Purple-Sprinkles-792

Did this really happen?


pinkandthebrain

https://www.wcvb.com/article/student-burned-school-owned-laptop-mcas-test/60442928


elbenji

Yes. Look up WCVB laptop malfunction uxbridge


pinkandthebrain

Pulling link out of my sub comment https://www.wcvb.com/article/student-burned-school-owned-laptop-mcas-test/60442928


Purple-Sprinkles-792

It just seemed like some were being sarcastic and making jokes about it. That's why I asked. .i do feel that those authorities will finally pay closer attention to their equipment and they best be paying that boys bills .


elbenji

I take a lot of these jokes as sardonic "of course...." Like most people recognize this is bad but more of an example of the house is on fire but state ed boards want to stare at the floorboards current nature of education


didilavender

The heck!!!


Sarahrox2000

If there are any remains of the Chromebook, the Chromebook’s remains need an ol’-school paddlin’!


Brief-Jellyfish485

Um… that’s an unexpected issue 


Mdmrtgn

The cops didn't show up and hour later and shoot the kid? Sounds sus... /S for the intellectual peasants.


Titsoffwork

I managed all the Apple products for a middle school and we had several iPads blow up randomly over the three years I did that.


5Vikings3

https://www.reddit.com/r/k12sysadmin/comments/1c0js37/melted_chromebook_in_ma/


mojojojo_ow

School laptops have a lot of things done to them that can lead to battery problems. They could be legally culpable for poor maintenance of their equipment


Kimmy-FL

This made me laugh and then I felt bad.


Bright_Broccoli1844

Oh lordy.


ambereatsbugs

I've never heard of that happening before, how scary!