Screens in APS

[Anonymous]

I just talked to one of the admins at my kids APS high school about this. I think the problem is that ed tech companies all have sales people who come in and sell their platform's ability to boost test scores, etc. But there are so sales forces for just reading some good novels or having kids take home a bunch of math worksheets. So edtech wins. It is so depressing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:FCPS opt out is only for opting out of bring devices home at evening. Nothing about opting out during the actual school day. FCPS sucks on screens.

Thanks. I thought it was a complete technology opt out. i.e. only textbooks and worksheets.

Don't get too excited anyways

There are no textbooks and the worksheets are schlock from teachers helping teachers busywork

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just talked to one of the admins at my kids APS high school about this. I think the problem is that ed tech companies all have sales people who come in and sell their platform's ability to boost test scores, etc. But there are so sales forces for just reading some good novels or having kids take home a bunch of math worksheets. So edtech wins. It is so depressing.

The teachers have too many students to evaluate if they read and understand a given novel. Tech enables them to generate some metrics for on leveo students with minimal effort and spend time with high need population to focus on SOLs

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:FCPS opt out is only for opting out of bring devices home at evening. Nothing about opting out during the actual school day. FCPS sucks on screens.

Thanks. I thought it was a complete technology opt out. i.e. only textbooks and worksheets.

Don't get too excited anyways

There are no textbooks and the worksheets are schlock from teachers helping teachers busywork

Even when the worksheets are in color in a workbook, most worksheets are busy work. OTOH a lot of actual work in the work place is busy work as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:FCPS opt out is only for opting out of bring devices home at evening. Nothing about opting out during the actual school day. FCPS sucks on screens.

Thanks. I thought it was a complete technology opt out. i.e. only textbooks and worksheets.

Don't get too excited anyways

There are no textbooks and the worksheets are schlock from teachers helping teachers busywork

Even when the worksheets are in color in a workbook, most worksheets are busy work. OTOH a lot of actual work in the work place is busy work as well.

Can kids bring their own workbook?

[Anonymous]

Ugh, I hate that our pandemic kids are now at the mercy of screens and AI. I am positive the trend will reverse but it will be too late for those who don’t supplement at home. Seriously considering quitting my job and home schooling…

Thanks to the teachers for chiming in!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ugh, I hate that our pandemic kids are now at the mercy of screens and AI. I am positive the trend will reverse but it will be too late for those who don’t supplement at home. Seriously considering quitting my job and home schooling…

Thanks to the teachers for chiming in!

APS and FCPS are taking baby steps to reduce technology. That change is better than MCPS but not as meaningful as Los Angeles and other districts where there is a total ban on school issued devices or an upper limit of 30 minutes a day for upper grades like 5th/6th graders. LA is returning to physical textbooks and more traditional methods of teaching. It was a unanimous vote by the school board there.

[Anonymous]

Breaking news today in the Wall Street Journal: "The Parent Uprising Against Screen Time at School: In suburbs including Philadelphia’s Main Line, moms and dads are pleading with districts to rein in tech: ‘These electronics have ruined parenting.’"

Surprisingly, some districts are still working towards eliminating existing tech opt outs. It appears many parents of all walks of life, including those who work in tech, support sharply reducing screen time at school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Breaking news today in the Wall Street Journal: "The Parent Uprising Against Screen Time at School: In suburbs including Philadelphia’s Main Line, moms and dads are pleading with districts to rein in tech: ‘These electronics have ruined parenting.’"

Surprisingly, some districts are still working towards eliminating existing tech opt outs. It appears many parents of all walks of life, including those who work in tech, support sharply reducing screen time at school.

I work in tech and many od my friends do. None of us think screens in schools are a good idea.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Breaking news today in the Wall Street Journal: "The Parent Uprising Against Screen Time at School: In suburbs including Philadelphia’s Main Line, moms and dads are pleading with districts to rein in tech: ‘These electronics have ruined parenting.’"

Surprisingly, some districts are still working towards eliminating existing tech opt outs. It appears many parents of all walks of life, including those who work in tech, support sharply reducing screen time at school.

I work in tech and many od my friends do. None of us think screens in schools are a good idea.

Dealers never use

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just talked to one of the admins at my kids APS high school about this. I think the problem is that ed tech companies all have sales people who come in and sell their platform's ability to boost test scores, etc. But there are so sales forces for just reading some good novels or having kids take home a bunch of math worksheets. So edtech wins. It is so depressing.

The teachers have too many students to evaluate if they read and understand a given novel. Tech enables them to generate some metrics for on leveo students with minimal effort and spend time with high need population to focus on SOLs

But this includes honors/intensified classes which should not be adjusting for students who are struggling with basics.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Breaking news today in the Wall Street Journal: "The Parent Uprising Against Screen Time at School: In suburbs including Philadelphia’s Main Line, moms and dads are pleading with districts to rein in tech: ‘These electronics have ruined parenting.’"

Surprisingly, some districts are still working towards eliminating existing tech opt outs. It appears many parents of all walks of life, including those who work in tech, support sharply reducing screen time at school.

I work in tech and many od my friends do. None of us think screens in schools are a good idea.

Dealers never use

Before covid, an acquaintance worked in EdTech, and I recall her saying how demoralizing her job was, pushing their software platform onto school districts.