APE and tech (APS)

[Anonymous]

So APE wants no ipads in early grades. Limited in ES, and laptops starting in 6th. And they have a candidate running for school board. Details in ARL now and, as always, read the comments once popcorn is ready.

https://www.arlnow.com/2024/04/24/stop-giving-ipads-and-macbooks-to-all-students-parent-group-tells-aps/

[Anonymous]

This all sounds fantastic.

[Anonymous]

I don't particularly care for that group, but don't mind the idea of scrapping ipads for the youngest. My kindergarten student says he uses it once per week for Lexia / Dreambox. Feels like they don't need a device for every child for that purpose.

[Anonymous]

Of all the things I care about, elementary school iPad usage is the least of my concerns. If APE talked to their teachers and principals, they would find that even in upper elem, they aren’t even used that much. It’s mostly used for differentiation, so that teachers can put the class on Lexia or Dreambox so that they can do small group work. Anything more will cost money for more teachers to supervise, and we all know what’s going on with the budget. And yes, many standardized tests are administered electronically. You will have to go to Richmond for that.

So tired of APE taking all the oxygen out of the room, so we can’t talk about more salient issues affecting APS. ArlNow is now their mouthpiece.

[Anonymous]

I think it’s significant that APE and AEA are in agreement with this. I support it as well as APS staff/parent

[Anonymous]

I’m so glad Zuraya finally took a stand on something so that now I can justify not voting for her! 😎

[Anonymous]

Sounds like they want to Waldorf APS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So APE wants no ipads in early grades. Limited in ES, and laptops starting in 6th. And they have a candidate running for school board. Details in ARL now and, as always, read the comments once popcorn is ready.

https://www.arlnow.com/2024/04/24/stop-giving-ipads-and-macbooks-to-all-students-parent-group-tells-aps/

Is Zuraya their candidate? She’s the most anti-iPad in the article.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Of all the things I care about, elementary school iPad usage is the least of my concerns. If APE talked to their teachers and principals, they would find that even in upper elem, they aren’t even used that much. It’s mostly used for differentiation, so that teachers can put the class on Lexia or Dreambox so that they can do small group work. Anything more will cost money for more teachers to supervise, and we all know what’s going on with the budget. And yes, many standardized tests are administered electronically. You will have to go to Richmond for that.

So tired of APE taking all the oxygen out of the room, so we can’t talk about more salient issues affecting APS. ArlNow is now their mouthpiece.

The head of AEA agrees with them! Everything on your list can be done with a class set and not 1-1. And no SOLs until grade 3.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Of all the things I care about, elementary school iPad usage is the least of my concerns. If APE talked to their teachers and principals, they would find that even in upper elem, they aren’t even used that much. It’s mostly used for differentiation, so that teachers can put the class on Lexia or Dreambox so that they can do small group work. Anything more will cost money for more teachers to supervise, and we all know what’s going on with the budget. And yes, many standardized tests are administered electronically. You will have to go to Richmond for that.

So tired of APE taking all the oxygen out of the room, so we can’t talk about more salient issues affecting APS. ArlNow is now their mouthpiece.

The head of AEA agrees with them! Everything on your list can be done with a class set and not 1-1. And no SOLs until grade 3.

+1 I’m fine with iPads in 3rd grade (the vast majority of kids know how to use them before then) I don’t think people realize how much other stuff is done on smartboards or monitors hooked up to laptops in APS elementary schools. All kids are looking at screens for a substantial amount of time each day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Of all the things I care about, elementary school iPad usage is the least of my concerns. If APE talked to their teachers and principals, they would find that even in upper elem, they aren’t even used that much. It’s mostly used for differentiation, so that teachers can put the class on Lexia or Dreambox so that they can do small group work. Anything more will cost money for more teachers to supervise, and we all know what’s going on with the budget. And yes, many standardized tests are administered electronically. You will have to go to Richmond for that.

So tired of APE taking all the oxygen out of the room, so we can’t talk about more salient issues affecting APS. ArlNow is now their mouthpiece.

The head of AEA agrees with them! Everything on your list can be done with a class set and not 1-1. And no SOLs until grade 3.

Believe me. The head of AEA doesn't speak for all teachers, just as APE doesn't speak for all parents.

Signed, APS teacher and parent

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Of all the things I care about, elementary school iPad usage is the least of my concerns. If APE talked to their teachers and principals, they would find that even in upper elem, they aren’t even used that much. It’s mostly used for differentiation, so that teachers can put the class on Lexia or Dreambox so that they can do small group work. Anything more will cost money for more teachers to supervise, and we all know what’s going on with the budget. And yes, many standardized tests are administered electronically. You will have to go to Richmond for that.

So tired of APE taking all the oxygen out of the room, so we can’t talk about more salient issues affecting APS. ArlNow is now their mouthpiece.

The head of AEA agrees with them! Everything on your list can be done with a class set and not 1-1. And no SOLs until grade 3.

K-2 still has some testing, if not SOLs. They are all done on iPads. It's an equity issue too. Ideally, yes, pen and paper is great. But printing classwork and assignments across 6 grade levels is helluva expensive. The Title I schools do not have the same PTA budgets as the Northside, which mostly funds the paper as it's not so sexy for APS to put office supplies in their budget. Not to mention the state of printers at APS. June Prakash and AEA should focus on that instead.

And for the person so concerned about whiteboards and teacher laptops, just remember that we had overhead projectors. Screentime was always a thing.

I thought Arlington cared about the environment. But for their kids, cut down all the trees!

[Anonymous]

This was not on my bingo card.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Of all the things I care about, elementary school iPad usage is the least of my concerns. If APE talked to their teachers and principals, they would find that even in upper elem, they aren’t even used that much. It’s mostly used for differentiation, so that teachers can put the class on Lexia or Dreambox so that they can do small group work. Anything more will cost money for more teachers to supervise, and we all know what’s going on with the budget. And yes, many standardized tests are administered electronically. You will have to go to Richmond for that.

So tired of APE taking all the oxygen out of the room, so we can’t talk about more salient issues affecting APS. ArlNow is now their mouthpiece.

The head of AEA agrees with them! Everything on your list can be done with a class set and not 1-1. And no SOLs until grade 3.

Believe me. The head of AEA doesn't speak for all teachers, just as APE doesn't speak for all parents.

Signed, APS teacher and parent

What grade do you teach? I worked in K before I moved to a specialist role and hated the iPads

[Anonymous]

I feel like if anyone except APE was calling for this DCUM would be totally supportive