DCI: Too much focus on tablets/devices?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Okay, PP was joking, right?

Security breach, it's real.

They can't hold school if the computers don't work. Who is teaching - teachers or computers. So much for the smoke they blew up the PP's ass about 50% class time on computers.

No way is this real. Will never think again about this school if it is.

No. The no school
Today has nothing to do with the chrome books. Today was previously scheduled as a non school day. It has been on the calendar since the start of school. Merely a coincidence

[Anonymous]

Does the WIS policy apply to HS, MS or both?

[Anonymous]

RE WIS - both middle and high school students can use devices/go online during lunch. FWIW Burke is same for Middle and High School.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a hunch that 20:08 & 21:51 is a DCI admin. I recognize the dismissive language and tone. That or school she works at is earily similar. Ugh!

Can you even read? 21:51 says she is a teacher at a 1:1 school, presumably not DCI. Quit making trouble. You sound almost as pathetic as a Basis booster.

And btw, I am an NP, and no, not a DCI parent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Kids are going to drink in college. Why don't we start them early on the theory that then they won't go crazy with it when they are on their own? Because their brains are developing and we want to give them a safe space to develop. Because there is no evidence (in fact to the contrary) that drinking in high school means less drinking risky in college.

Same with tech. On both scores.

European students would tell you otherwise. They don't binge drink and get loaded at frat parties while at University. They do have a sense of more responsible behavior.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
"Unfettered" access means access to the internet and cell phones during school breaks throughout the day. It also appears that students can access the internet during class time! Who in the world thinks that this is a good idea?!?

I do. I'm a high school science teacher and here are some reasons why I think this is a good idea.

First and foremost: text books are horrible. This is especially true when you are dealing with subjects that add new content all the time. They are out of date by the time they reach the shelves, so there is a constant need for revisions. They are expensive. My textbooks (required by the state) cost $90 each. Textbooks are written by standardized test writers to meet the lowest common denominator of needs in the largest number of markets possible. The only non-technology alternative is to create paper copies of collections of readings. Is that a good use of time or resources when the material could be read online without a copier?

The technology I use isn't just to read the assignments or to submit documents of answers they type. My google classroom creates a permanent, accessible archive of everything we've done. A kid who needed hospitalization? A kid who is sick from his meds? A death in the family? New student from another country just arrived? Went through a rough spot and need to review? A parent or a tutor or a big brother wants to help a struggling student? None of it could get done efficiently if at all without my google classroom and the rich, varied content I put on it. All of these situations and much more have happened to me in the past month, as they do (in one form or another) every year.

As for cell phones, I collect some of my best student data from a handful or apps that I use with them. My favorite by far is a cell phone app called Exittix. I create questions and the kids respond to them on their phones. It can be a quick quiz or a question or two to spot check for understanding. All of the student results are disaggregated so I know who/how many have mastered each question. It also tells me how long it took them to answer (if I think they cheated and looked it up). I can even arrange the questions to sort for common misconceptions. Kids also take pictures of projects, film presentations and check their grades with their phones. I send them assignment reminders and messages about things via a group text app. I flip the classroom whenever possible and I film myself with my phone sometimes.

These are just a couple of the things that happen in a technology infused classroom, but I have many more are part of my repertoire. Unfortunately, I don't have a computer lab or dedicated devices for everyone so it severely limits what I can do.

I should clarify that I do not support wild, unsupervised access to kids. As a professional, it is my duty to monitor them, guide them, help them choose properly and keep them involved in learning. As a future DCI parent I hope to see substantive training and support for the teachers to implement the technology well. Since our family isn't there yet I can't comment on whether or not that training is there. I would just caution people from interpreting ALL of DCI based on the anecdotes of a few 'tweens as filtered through their parents on an anonymous listserv.

What school do you teach at?

Probably DCI.

Shut the f*ck up, troll. Obviously she's not a DCI teacher, that's quite clear from the context to anyone who can read English.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
"Unfettered" access means access to the internet and cell phones during school breaks throughout the day. It also appears that students can access the internet during class time! Who in the world thinks that this is a good idea?!?

I do. I'm a high school science teacher and here are some reasons why I think this is a good idea.

What school do you teach at?

Probably DCI.

DCI doesn't have high school grade levels.

It's possible that she is a middle school teacher at DCI, but she's trying to hide her identity by saying she's a high school teacher. It's shocking, I know, but people sometimes lie on DCUM.

If she's who I think she is, she teachers AP science courses at a top HS in Montgomery County. You however, are most likely a concern troll.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Okay, PP was joking, right?

Security breach, it's real.

They can't hold school if the computers don't work. Who is teaching - teachers or computers. So much for the smoke they blew up the PP's ass about 50% class time on computers.

No way is this real. Will never think again about this school if it is.

No. The no school
Today has nothing to do with the chrome books. Today was previously scheduled as a non school day. It has been on the calendar since the start of school. Merely a coincidence

Doesn't all of DCPS have today off as a PD day as well? Ooohhh conspiracy.....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
"Unfettered" access means access to the internet and cell phones during school breaks throughout the day. It also appears that students can access the internet during class time! Who in the world thinks that this is a good idea?!?

I do. I'm a high school science teacher and here are some reasons why I think this is a good idea.

First and foremost: text books are horrible. This is especially true when you are dealing with subjects that add new content all the time. They are out of date by the time they reach the shelves, so there is a constant need for revisions. They are expensive. My textbooks (required by the state) cost $90 each. Textbooks are written by standardized test writers to meet the lowest common denominator of needs in the largest number of markets possible. The only non-technology alternative is to create paper copies of collections of readings. Is that a good use of time or resources when the material could be read online without a copier?

The technology I use isn't just to read the assignments or to submit documents of answers they type. My google classroom creates a permanent, accessible archive of everything we've done. A kid who needed hospitalization? A kid who is sick from his meds? A death in the family? New student from another country just arrived? Went through a rough spot and need to review? A parent or a tutor or a big brother wants to help a struggling student? None of it could get done efficiently if at all without my google classroom and the rich, varied content I put on it. All of these situations and much more have happened to me in the past month, as they do (in one form or another) every year.

As for cell phones, I collect some of my best student data from a handful or apps that I use with them. My favorite by far is a cell phone app called Exittix. I create questions and the kids respond to them on their phones. It can be a quick quiz or a question or two to spot check for understanding. All of the student results are disaggregated so I know who/how many have mastered each question. It also tells me how long it took them to answer (if I think they cheated and looked it up). I can even arrange the questions to sort for common misconceptions. Kids also take pictures of projects, film presentations and check their grades with their phones. I send them assignment reminders and messages about things via a group text app. I flip the classroom whenever possible and I film myself with my phone sometimes.

These are just a couple of the things that happen in a technology infused classroom, but I have many more are part of my repertoire. Unfortunately, I don't have a computer lab or dedicated devices for everyone so it severely limits what I can do.

I should clarify that I do not support wild, unsupervised access to kids. As a professional, it is my duty to monitor them, guide them, help them choose properly and keep them involved in learning. As a future DCI parent I hope to see substantive training and support for the teachers to implement the technology well. Since our family isn't there yet I can't comment on whether or not that training is there. I would just caution people from interpreting ALL of DCI based on the anecdotes of a few 'tweens as filtered through their parents on an anonymous listserv.

What school do you teach at?

Probably DCI.

Shut the f*ck up, troll. Obviously she's not a DCI teacher, that's quite clear from the context to anyone who can read English.

You need anger management counseling...and possibly medication. How do you react when something is REALLY wrong?!?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
"Unfettered" access means access to the internet and cell phones during school breaks throughout the day. It also appears that students can access the internet during class time! Who in the world thinks that this is a good idea?!?

I do. I'm a high school science teacher and here are some reasons why I think this is a good idea.

What school do you teach at?

Probably DCI.

DCI doesn't have high school grade levels.

It's possible that she is a middle school teacher at DCI, but she's trying to hide her identity by saying she's a high school teacher. It's shocking, I know, but people sometimes lie on DCUM.

If she's who I think she is, she teachers AP science courses at a top HS in Montgomery County. You however, are most likely a concern troll.

You must also work for DCI.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:RE WIS - both middle and high school students can use devices/go online during lunch. FWIW Burke is same for Middle and High School.

WIS has a large open campus for middle/upper school. Teachers and administrators can't and shouldn't have to monitor personal device use at break time. I'm there frequently and can report that most kids are socializing during breaks; a few kids are clearly doing schoolwork on mandated iPads; very few are scrolling through instagram posts. It drives me crazy AT HOME that my kid has a smartphone and iPad, but his use during the school day is minimal and mostly consists of a quick text to me at lunchtime about changes in pickup times.

[Anonymous]

Am I the only DCI parent whose child has a notebook, workbooks and handouts? My DC has to use paper and pencil for numerous assignments. He often uses his workbook in Chinese/Mandarin and math. I know this because I look at his assignments in goggle classroom and check that they had been completed written/electronic. When I have visited the school during lunch, I have heard ans seen a lot of what we would call traditional socializing. especially during the warm months. Many of the students are outside playing. They also offer study hall (my DC attends 2x a week), and some groups/clubs meet during this time.

As for distractions, whether it's computers, passing notes, drawing or cell phones teacher will always have the challenge of keeping students on task and focused. Teachers generally do not roam around the classroom looking at student work the entire time that they are class. There are periods when the students are working independently and happy that the teachers are able to monitor what they're doing. I like that they can shut the computer down if the students are not doing what they are supposed to do.

Hopefully, the parents (who have this issue) and the administration of DCI will will come to a compromise. There just needs to be enough parents who voice their opposition and/or concerns to the administration.

If the policies and practices of DCI are not in line with how you would like your child to be educated, exercise your right of school choice. Change generally does not happen over night. Once the parents listserv is up and running hopefully the parents will able to better mobilize and vocalize their problems. issues, and concern to administration.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the thoughtful response. I am glad to hear the students do use paper and have books. I think I am just very confused due to conflicting reports on this site and lack of information on the website. Maybe the differences are due to individual teachers?

I was really excited about DCI but after reading about DCI I have concerns but I know I am also understand that I don't (yet) have enough information to make an informed decision

[Anonymous]

I encourage all of you to hang out with actual, honest-to-goodness teenagers some time. You might find your current opinions to be a little provincial after that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I encourage all of you to hang out with actual, honest-to-goodness teenagers some time. You might find your current opinions to be a little provincial after that.

My job has me around teenagers 8 hours a day. It's exactly because I know teenagers that I am concerned about what DCI parents are reporting. You're absurd if you think only people clueless about teens have these concerns.