APE and tech (APS)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are the anti-APE paranoiacs now convinced that APE has infiltrated the AEA as well? Prakash basically endorsed their position.

Lots of teachers are on board too. The 1:1 policy was implemented during COVID, when it was needed. It doesn't sound like elementary teachers think they need 1:1 for K-2, especially where the same funding could get them other supports.

I've also heard from my daughter's 5th grade teacher and MS teachers that teachers would prefer for a device with a keyboard (like a Chromebook) over an iPad so kids can more easily type content. They describe it as needing devices for content producers instead of content consumers. I don't think teachers are trying to get into the Mac/PC debate as much as suggesting a device at a similar price point as an iPad that has a full keyboard.

I don't think these are APE positions, even if APE agrees.

Honestly, I'm against this too. Make them write on pencil and paper. At the middle school level the essays aren't so long that it makes a meaningful time difference. The only advantage to giving them keyboards is so that it's easier for the teacher to collect all the written work with software. While I'm sensitive to the needs of teachers, paper and pencil are better for this age group in terms of re-inforcing all sorts of good habits and promoting better focus and engagement with the act of writing. Worse for students but easier for teachers isn't the kind of trade-off we should be making. Support the teachers with things like smaller class sizes so they have the ability to teach these skills well.

[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.

+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.

Please. The issue is not that they are looking at a smartboard or monitor. It's the specific battle with the ipad. The discipline issues, the attention fragmentation from gamification, the cost of the devices, the amount of effort spent on making sure they're brought to school and charged up. All of it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

+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.

Please. The issue is not that they are looking at a smartboard or monitor. It's the specific battle with the ipad. The discipline issues, the attention fragmentation from gamification, the cost of the devices, the amount of effort spent on making sure they're brought to school and charged up. All of it.

It’s both.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are the anti-APE paranoiacs now convinced that APE has infiltrated the AEA as well? Prakash basically endorsed their position.

Lots of teachers are on board too. The 1:1 policy was implemented during COVID, when it was needed. It doesn't sound like elementary teachers think they need 1:1 for K-2, especially where the same funding could get them other supports.

I've also heard from my daughter's 5th grade teacher and MS teachers that teachers would prefer for a device with a keyboard (like a Chromebook) over an iPad so kids can more easily type content. They describe it as needing devices for content producers instead of content consumers. I don't think teachers are trying to get into the Mac/PC debate as much as suggesting a device at a similar price point as an iPad that has a full keyboard.

I don't think these are APE positions, even if APE agrees.

Then the middle schools and upper elementary grades should probably have macbooks or at least ipads with the keyboard attachments. Switching to another provider for just a few grades doesn’t make a whole lot of sense.

It would be really tone deaf to suggest buying MacBooks for more kids in a very tough budget year. Chromebooks seem more attainable given their price point, but what device is really a question for APS IT.

As a parent, I support the concept of devices with a keyboard for 5th grade and MS based on teacher sentiment but don't feel strongly at all about exactly what device as long as it works.

APS can easily buy the iPad keyboard attachments. I see people using iPads with keyboards all the time in planes, on trains, and in cafes. That’s cheaper and less disruptive than buying disposable Chromebooks for just a a few grades.

[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.

APS pays teachers less than relative to other districts, we have mainstreamed kids with challenges, and ramped up testing. There will be times when the teacher needs to focus on on a small group, often times this will consume a large portion of the day, so what would the kids do before iPads? They would watch a movie. Or worksheets. This may or may not be better, but the real problem is the classes are too large now, and there’s too much differentiation effort to allow them to actually teach the class as one

[Anonymous]

Can someone please clarify who the APE candidate is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can someone please clarify who the APE candidate is.

Everyone but Larry

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are the anti-APE paranoiacs now convinced that APE has infiltrated the AEA as well? Prakash basically endorsed their position.

Lots of teachers are on board too. The 1:1 policy was implemented during COVID, when it was needed. It doesn't sound like elementary teachers think they need 1:1 for K-2, especially where the same funding could get them other supports.

I've also heard from my daughter's 5th grade teacher and MS teachers that teachers would prefer for a device with a keyboard (like a Chromebook) over an iPad so kids can more easily type content. They describe it as needing devices for content producers instead of content consumers. I don't think teachers are trying to get into the Mac/PC debate as much as suggesting a device at a similar price point as an iPad that has a full keyboard.

I don't think these are APE positions, even if APE agrees.

Then the middle schools and upper elementary grades should probably have macbooks or at least ipads with the keyboard attachments. Switching to another provider for just a few grades doesn’t make a whole lot of sense.

It would be really tone deaf to suggest buying MacBooks for more kids in a very tough budget year. Chromebooks seem more attainable given their price point, but what device is really a question for APS IT.

As a parent, I support the concept of devices with a keyboard for 5th grade and MS based on teacher sentiment but don't feel strongly at all about exactly what device as long as it works.

APS can easily buy the iPad keyboard attachments. I see people using iPads with keyboards all the time in planes, on trains, and in cafes. That’s cheaper and less disruptive than buying disposable Chromebooks for just a a few grades.

It’s not actually. Those keyboard attachments break all. The. Time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are the anti-APE paranoiacs now convinced that APE has infiltrated the AEA as well? Prakash basically endorsed their position.

Lots of teachers are on board too. The 1:1 policy was implemented during COVID, when it was needed. It doesn't sound like elementary teachers think they need 1:1 for K-2, especially where the same funding could get them other supports.

I've also heard from my daughter's 5th grade teacher and MS teachers that teachers would prefer for a device with a keyboard (like a Chromebook) over an iPad so kids can more easily type content. They describe it as needing devices for content producers instead of content consumers. I don't think teachers are trying to get into the Mac/PC debate as much as suggesting a device at a similar price point as an iPad that has a full keyboard.

I don't think these are APE positions, even if APE agrees.

Then the middle schools and upper elementary grades should probably have macbooks or at least ipads with the keyboard attachments. Switching to another provider for just a few grades doesn’t make a whole lot of sense.

It would be really tone deaf to suggest buying MacBooks for more kids in a very tough budget year. Chromebooks seem more attainable given their price point, but what device is really a question for APS IT.

As a parent, I support the concept of devices with a keyboard for 5th grade and MS based on teacher sentiment but don't feel strongly at all about exactly what device as long as it works.

APS can easily buy the iPad keyboard attachments. I see people using iPads with keyboards all the time in planes, on trains, and in cafes. That’s cheaper and less disruptive than buying disposable Chromebooks for just a a few grades.

It’s not actually. Those keyboard attachments break all. The. Time.

Apple is supposed to release a cheaper e-book version of its macbooks this summer. It’ll be interesting to see if the lower grades could use those. The concept is inspired by the e-Mac of the 90s or the Apple-IIe’s of the 80s that APS used to use.

[Anonymous]

I totally agree with APE on this. Maybe they aren’t so bad after all!

[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.

APS pays teachers less than relative to other districts, we have mainstreamed kids with challenges, and ramped up testing. There will be times when the teacher needs to focus on on a small group, often times this will consume a large portion of the day, so what would the kids do before iPads? They would watch a movie. Or worksheets. This may or may not be better, but the real problem is the classes are too large now, and there’s too much differentiation effort to allow them to actually teach the class as one

You think a kindergarten teacher will put most of their class on an iPad so they can focus on a small group for a large portion of the day??? I don't think so. That's not how kindergarten kids work. Their attention spans don't last long at all.

[Anonymous]

The iPads in APS are the only way my 1st and 4th grade gifted children are being challenged with differentiated work. If the iPads go, we need an actual gifted program or kids need to be grouped with academic peers. They also need real grades. What’s the point in working hard if the best mark you can get is “meets”.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The iPads in APS are the only way my 1st and 4th grade gifted children are being challenged with differentiated work. If the iPads go, we need an actual gifted program or kids need to be grouped with academic peers. They also need real grades. What’s the point in working hard if the best mark you can get is “meets”.

Your kid isn’t getting any differentiation on the iPad. Any instructional program that they can progress in is capped at grade level. So they can get to the end faster, but then they’re just stuck in a holding pattern. I see this as an indictment of both the iPads and our sham of a gifted program.

[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.

APS pays teachers less than relative to other districts, we have mainstreamed kids with challenges, and ramped up testing. There will be times when the teacher needs to focus on on a small group, often times this will consume a large portion of the day, so what would the kids do before iPads? They would watch a movie. Or worksheets. This may or may not be better, but the real problem is the classes are too large now, and there’s too much differentiation effort to allow them to actually teach the class as one

You think a kindergarten teacher will put most of their class on an iPad so they can focus on a small group for a large portion of the day??? I don't think so. That's not how kindergarten kids work. Their attention spans don't last long at all.

They’re called digital pacifiers for a reason.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The iPads in APS are the only way my 1st and 4th grade gifted children are being challenged with differentiated work. If the iPads go, we need an actual gifted program or kids need to be grouped with academic peers. They also need real grades. What’s the point in working hard if the best mark you can get is “meets”.

I think this is a separate issue. The gifted program is a joke and needs to be fixed. They should go back to the pull-out program. And agree we need real grades. But the iPads are not solving for any of this. The kids just finish their work faster and then play games on them.