APE and tech (APS)

[Anonymous]

Last year, one of my younger children did a very creative online drawing project in his art class. Something like Procreate, but maybe another program approved by APS? Imagine all of the crying when 6 year olds have to share an iPad in art class.

Stop it. Move on, APE.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Last year, one of my younger children did a very creative online drawing project in his art class. Something like Procreate, but maybe another program approved by APS? Imagine all of the crying when 6 year olds have to share an iPad in art class.

Stop it. Move on, APE.

I don't want my 6 yo doing art class on a screen. There are so many more age appropriate things they could be doing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Last year, one of my younger children did a very creative online drawing project in his art class. Something like Procreate, but maybe another program approved by APS? Imagine all of the crying when 6 year olds have to share an iPad in art class.

Stop it. Move on, APE.

I don't want my 6 yo doing art class on a screen. There are so many more age appropriate things they could be doing.

It was just one unit, my dude. Relax. They do painting and crayons too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Last year, one of my younger children did a very creative online drawing project in his art class. Something like Procreate, but maybe another program approved by APS? Imagine all of the crying when 6 year olds have to share an iPad in art class.

Stop it. Move on, APE.

I don't want my 6 yo doing art class on a screen. There are so many more age appropriate things they could be doing.

OMG. The outrage machine continues! Kids actually learning Procreate. Call APE!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why is everyone ignoring the teachers union that also agrees with reducing tech?

Link to the AEA statement? I couldn't find it.

In the ArlNow article that was linked at the beginning, June Prakash stated on behalf of the AEA that she agrees with reducing tech in the classroom. I wonder if she was only speaking for herself though. From the teachers that I speak to and are actual friends with, they're tired of her and AEM guy. Thank you for your step/COLA advocacy, but we didn't agree to everything else you say on our behalf.

I don't know why folks are so focused on which organized groups support or have made statements. This topic has come up in conversations with other parents and teachers and they all seem to be generally aligned. I don't care what AEM, AEA or APE thinks. It's a common sense proposal that probably needs some refinement and more input from IT and schools, but is absolutely worth considering.

It's not though. This parent is not aligned at all with taking away tech, and doesn't care one iota about elementary iPad usage. Opt out if you're so inclined, but stop trying to policy my children away from things that work for them. And a lot of teachers use tech for really amazing things outside of what you read, even for K-2. Stop trying to speak for all of us. You're really only representing the people you know.

+1

Lexia was very helpful for my dyslexic kid, even pre-diagnosis. iPads can be useful tools, even for K-2.

The cost savings of cutting out a portion of iPads for K-2 are a joke. The more impactful budget solution would have been pushing back hard on Youngkin when he slashed APS funding. Fortunately, the GA was able to recoup some of his cuts, but not all.

And we’ve seen that for many kids, Lexia is replacing actual instruction. Tech use is up, performance is down. More and more research is coming out that these devices are not as effective as the old methods, are addicting, and trigger things in the brain we can’t even understand. The people who invent these devices don’t let their own kids use them. That’s telling.

Lexia does provide systemic instruction on structured reading. It's a great supplement to in-class instruction. With increasing class size because the county and state are not properly funding APS, tools like Lexia will help make sure that kids are getting proper, thorough instruction and reinforcement. Kids should absolutely be using iPads a little as possible, but there is a place for them 1:1 in the K-2 classrooms.

I'd take several extra reading specialists in every school, but that will cost a lot more than a fraction of iPads.

We get what we pay for.

Why do you think 1:1 is needed? You've given no justification why kids can't share if they're only using them for a limited amount of time each day.

It would be too time consuming for teachers to constantly be disinfecting iPads and logging kids in and out. Plus, it’d potentially restrict flexible groupings. What if a kid switches to a new small group? What is a kid got pulled out for extra help?

Also, if there is any sort of situation where kids needed to be virtual there wouldn’t be enough.

Unnecessary administrative nightmare for saving a small amount. This whole exercise is a distraction from the bigger budget issues.

Why hasn’t APE addressed the underfunding by the state and county? Why didn’t they pushback on Youngkin’s cut?

It’s not about the iPads.

It isn't just about budget. In fact, it's primarily about effective education and appropriate levels of screen time.
Too time consuming to disinfect iPads and log kids in and out? Seriously? Wipes on the tables, each kid wipes it down and logs in on their own. Done. If that's one of your top concerns, it's a distraction from the bigger issues.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why is everyone ignoring the teachers union that also agrees with reducing tech?

Link to the AEA statement? I couldn't find it.

In the ArlNow article that was linked at the beginning, June Prakash stated on behalf of the AEA that she agrees with reducing tech in the classroom. I wonder if she was only speaking for herself though. From the teachers that I speak to and are actual friends with, they're tired of her and AEM guy. Thank you for your step/COLA advocacy, but we didn't agree to everything else you say on our behalf.

I don't know why folks are so focused on which organized groups support or have made statements. This topic has come up in conversations with other parents and teachers and they all seem to be generally aligned. I don't care what AEM, AEA or APE thinks. It's a common sense proposal that probably needs some refinement and more input from IT and schools, but is absolutely worth considering.

It's not though. This parent is not aligned at all with taking away tech, and doesn't care one iota about elementary iPad usage. Opt out if you're so inclined, but stop trying to policy my children away from things that work for them. And a lot of teachers use tech for really amazing things outside of what you read, even for K-2. Stop trying to speak for all of us. You're really only representing the people you know.

+1

Lexia was very helpful for my dyslexic kid, even pre-diagnosis. iPads can be useful tools, even for K-2.

The cost savings of cutting out a portion of iPads for K-2 are a joke. The more impactful budget solution would have been pushing back hard on Youngkin when he slashed APS funding. Fortunately, the GA was able to recoup some of his cuts, but not all.

And we’ve seen that for many kids, Lexia is replacing actual instruction. Tech use is up, performance is down. More and more research is coming out that these devices are not as effective as the old methods, are addicting, and trigger things in the brain we can’t even understand. The people who invent these devices don’t let their own kids use them. That’s telling.

Lexia does provide systemic instruction on structured reading. It's a great supplement to in-class instruction. With increasing class size because the county and state are not properly funding APS, tools like Lexia will help make sure that kids are getting proper, thorough instruction and reinforcement. Kids should absolutely be using iPads a little as possible, but there is a place for them 1:1 in the K-2 classrooms.

I'd take several extra reading specialists in every school, but that will cost a lot more than a fraction of iPads.

We get what we pay for.

I don’t think Lexia is the godsend they are making it out to be, or that it is “providing proper, thorough instruction and reinforcement.” All the evidence I’ve seen is equivocal at best. I’d rather invest in reading specialists providing real human level support than iPads and pricey software systems.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why is everyone ignoring the teachers union that also agrees with reducing tech?

Link to the AEA statement? I couldn't find it.

In the ArlNow article that was linked at the beginning, June Prakash stated on behalf of the AEA that she agrees with reducing tech in the classroom. I wonder if she was only speaking for herself though. From the teachers that I speak to and are actual friends with, they're tired of her and AEM guy. Thank you for your step/COLA advocacy, but we didn't agree to everything else you say on our behalf.

I don't know why folks are so focused on which organized groups support or have made statements. This topic has come up in conversations with other parents and teachers and they all seem to be generally aligned. I don't care what AEM, AEA or APE thinks. It's a common sense proposal that probably needs some refinement and more input from IT and schools, but is absolutely worth considering.

It's not though. This parent is not aligned at all with taking away tech, and doesn't care one iota about elementary iPad usage. Opt out if you're so inclined, but stop trying to policy my children away from things that work for them. And a lot of teachers use tech for really amazing things outside of what you read, even for K-2. Stop trying to speak for all of us. You're really only representing the people you know.

+1

Lexia was very helpful for my dyslexic kid, even pre-diagnosis. iPads can be useful tools, even for K-2.

The cost savings of cutting out a portion of iPads for K-2 are a joke. The more impactful budget solution would have been pushing back hard on Youngkin when he slashed APS funding. Fortunately, the GA was able to recoup some of his cuts, but not all.

And we’ve seen that for many kids, Lexia is replacing actual instruction. Tech use is up, performance is down. More and more research is coming out that these devices are not as effective as the old methods, are addicting, and trigger things in the brain we can’t even understand. The people who invent these devices don’t let their own kids use them. That’s telling.

Lexia does provide systemic instruction on structured reading. It's a great supplement to in-class instruction. With increasing class size because the county and state are not properly funding APS, tools like Lexia will help make sure that kids are getting proper, thorough instruction and reinforcement. Kids should absolutely be using iPads a little as possible, but there is a place for them 1:1 in the K-2 classrooms.

I'd take several extra reading specialists in every school, but that will cost a lot more than a fraction of iPads.

We get what we pay for.

I don’t think Lexia is the godsend they are making it out to be, or that it is “providing proper, thorough instruction and reinforcement.” All the evidence I’ve seen is equivocal at best. I’d rather invest in reading specialists providing real human level support than iPads and pricey software systems.

Great. We should all, including APE, push the state and county to properly fund APS.

The iPads and laptops are low-end models, not pricey.

[Anonymous]

If APE thinks that getting rid of some used iPads in K-2 is going to get one more reading specialist per elementary school, they obviously don't know how anything works.

People need to stop listening to them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Last year, one of my younger children did a very creative online drawing project in his art class. Something like Procreate, but maybe another program approved by APS? Imagine all of the crying when 6 year olds have to share an iPad in art class.

Stop it. Move on, APE.

I don't want my 6 yo doing art class on a screen. There are so many more age appropriate things they could be doing.

It was just one unit, my dude. Relax. They do painting and crayons too.

Buying iPads for a single art unit is ridiculous. Just do that lesson with 3rd, 4th or 5th graders who have 1:1 devices. It doesn't need to be done in K.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Last year, one of my younger children did a very creative online drawing project in his art class. Something like Procreate, but maybe another program approved by APS? Imagine all of the crying when 6 year olds have to share an iPad in art class.

Stop it. Move on, APE.

I don't want my 6 yo doing art class on a screen. There are so many more age appropriate things they could be doing.

It was just one unit, my dude. Relax. They do painting and crayons too.

Buying iPads for a single art unit is ridiculous. Just do that lesson with 3rd, 4th or 5th graders who have 1:1 devices. It doesn't need to be done in K.

Now you're just arguing for the sake of arguing. All of us know that iPads are used for more than art. I trust APS staff more than some anon parent whose kids may or may not go to APS what the curriculum should be.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Last year, one of my younger children did a very creative online drawing project in his art class. Something like Procreate, but maybe another program approved by APS? Imagine all of the crying when 6 year olds have to share an iPad in art class.

Stop it. Move on, APE.

I don't want my 6 yo doing art class on a screen. There are so many more age appropriate things they could be doing.

It was just one unit, my dude. Relax. They do painting and crayons too.

Buying iPads for a single art unit is ridiculous. Just do that lesson with 3rd, 4th or 5th graders who have 1:1 devices. It doesn't need to be done in K.

Now you're just arguing for the sake of arguing. All of us know that iPads are used for more than art. I trust APS staff more than some anon parent whose kids may or may not go to APS what the curriculum should be.

+1

I trust teachers more than clueless, aggressive parents who were screaming about APS before they even had kids in K.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Last year, one of my younger children did a very creative online drawing project in his art class. Something like Procreate, but maybe another program approved by APS? Imagine all of the crying when 6 year olds have to share an iPad in art class.

Stop it. Move on, APE.

I don't want my 6 yo doing art class on a screen. There are so many more age appropriate things they could be doing.

It was just one unit, my dude. Relax. They do painting and crayons too.

Buying iPads for a single art unit is ridiculous. Just do that lesson with 3rd, 4th or 5th graders who have 1:1 devices. It doesn't need to be done in K.

Now you're just arguing for the sake of arguing. All of us know that iPads are used for more than art. I trust APS staff more than some anon parent whose kids may or may not go to APS what the curriculum should be.

+1

I trust teachers more than clueless, aggressive parents who were screaming about APS before they even had kids in K.

Teachers have weighed in that 1:1 devices aren't necessary in K-2. You're just being oppositional because APE was quoted in the article.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Last year, one of my younger children did a very creative online drawing project in his art class. Something like Procreate, but maybe another program approved by APS? Imagine all of the crying when 6 year olds have to share an iPad in art class.

Stop it. Move on, APE.

I don't want my 6 yo doing art class on a screen. There are so many more age appropriate things they could be doing.

It was just one unit, my dude. Relax. They do painting and crayons too.

Buying iPads for a single art unit is ridiculous. Just do that lesson with 3rd, 4th or 5th graders who have 1:1 devices. It doesn't need to be done in K.

Now you're just arguing for the sake of arguing. All of us know that iPads are used for more than art. I trust APS staff more than some anon parent whose kids may or may not go to APS what the curriculum should be.

+1

I trust teachers more than clueless, aggressive parents who were screaming about APS before they even had kids in K.

Teachers have weighed in that 1:1 devices aren't necessary in K-2. You're just being oppositional because APE was quoted in the article.

Which teachers? One person from AEA? A couple anonymous posters on DCUM?

Either way, it doesn’t save that much money.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Last year, one of my younger children did a very creative online drawing project in his art class. Something like Procreate, but maybe another program approved by APS? Imagine all of the crying when 6 year olds have to share an iPad in art class.

Stop it. Move on, APE.

I don't want my 6 yo doing art class on a screen. There are so many more age appropriate things they could be doing.

It was just one unit, my dude. Relax. They do painting and crayons too.

Buying iPads for a single art unit is ridiculous. Just do that lesson with 3rd, 4th or 5th graders who have 1:1 devices. It doesn't need to be done in K.

Now you're just arguing for the sake of arguing. All of us know that iPads are used for more than art. I trust APS staff more than some anon parent whose kids may or may not go to APS what the curriculum should be.

+1

I trust teachers more than clueless, aggressive parents who were screaming about APS before they even had kids in K.

Teachers have weighed in that 1:1 devices aren't necessary in K-2. You're just being oppositional because APE was quoted in the article.

Which teachers? Because I know a 1st grade teacher who loves Lexia for her kids. They need to speak on the record rather than having anon guy or June Prakash speak on their behalf.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Last year, one of my younger children did a very creative online drawing project in his art class. Something like Procreate, but maybe another program approved by APS? Imagine all of the crying when 6 year olds have to share an iPad in art class.

Stop it. Move on, APE.

I don't want my 6 yo doing art class on a screen. There are so many more age appropriate things they could be doing.

It was just one unit, my dude. Relax. They do painting and crayons too.

Buying iPads for a single art unit is ridiculous. Just do that lesson with 3rd, 4th or 5th graders who have 1:1 devices. It doesn't need to be done in K.

Now you're just arguing for the sake of arguing. All of us know that iPads are used for more than art. I trust APS staff more than some anon parent whose kids may or may not go to APS what the curriculum should be.

Oh come on, I wasn't the one who suggested that 1:1 devices were needed because of art class. I was responding to ridiculousness, not raising it.