Buffalo Public School students now have a new tool to help them with their school work. The Buffalo Public School District has a new partnership with the Buffalo and Erie County Public Library creating the 'BPS virtual desktop' for city students. WBFO'S Focus on Education reporter Eileen Buckley says students can now remote into their school work.
"BPS Desktop is a way that students can access their work at school, at home or their nearest library," said
Karl English, sophomore at Buffalo Academy for Visual and Performing Arts.
"BPS Desktop is a way that students can access their work at school, at home or their nearest library," said Carl English, sophomore at Buffalo Academy for Visual and Performing Arts.
English was one of the demonstrators of the on-line computer tool at the Merriweather Library on Jefferson Avenue in Buffalo.
Some other school children appeared with Library system Director Mary Jean Jakubowski she noted, with parental permission, a student can use their library card at 37-library sites to download their school work.
"Whether you are seeking Common Core materials, STEM information, writing a book report or researching a paper, or simply reading for fun - the library is your place to go," stated Jakubowski.
Interim Buffalo Schools Superintendent Don Ogilvie said with a student user ID and password will allow students quick computer access.
"Phones are ubiquitous, but it is the on-line network that really delivers the goods. It's the way children in school will learn what they need in the future, and unfortunately about 40% of the students in Buffalo don't have access to on-line learning," said Ogilvie.
Student Karl English will be helping to train faculty and students at Performing Arts on the new desktop feature.
English said it will allow provided Internet access for homework and school projects.
"At school, if I'm working on Microsoft Office, in a document and if I go home, and try to work on the document and I don't have Microsoft Office, I can't get the work done, but with BPS Desktop I'll be able to be at home and do my work as if I was in school," noted English.
The desktop will give students needed access to remote to their school files when on a computer, tablet or smartphone.