DCI: Too much focus on tablets/devices?
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Anonymous
| For parents of 4th and 5th graders: How many of you currently in feeder schools are reconsidering going to DCI? Just trying to get a sense of numbers. |
Anonymous
| At YY 5th grade: All my daughter's friends are going! |
Anonymous
| Great. That is encouraging to hear that DCI has a lot of support from YY families. |
Anonymous
| At our feeder school it seems most of the rising 6th graders are headed to DCI but some are following older sibs to Latin or Basis, and some to Deal (they are IB). No clue how many have changed plans -- but a number of with older kids have other options or hedged our middle school bets having lived through some uncertainty with our charters from the early / founding years. |
Anonymous
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Is one reason DCI is so dependent on technology because it is hard to find appropriate and leveled content in Chinese? I expect you can't just buy a bunch of middle school history text books from China because
1) the vast majority of yu ying sixth graders can't read Chinese at a sixth grade level 2) those text books are full of propaganda 3) it would be incredibly expensive to import all those books As a result teachers have to cobble together content from online sources and distribute it to the students through their tablets? Just guessing, but this would make sense for why they have this model in the first place given the origins of the school. |
Anonymous
| Good point. And a great example of how using the internet would help teach a class on Chinese History. Still have concerns about every class, especially English, being taught using a chromebook |
Anonymous
Can you explain what your specific concerns are? What do you see as the difference between watching a teacher lecture, while taking notes on a chrome book, vs. watching a teacher lecture while taking notes on paper? Or the difference between writing a rough draft of an essay on a chromebook vs. writing it on paper? Or reading and discussing a poem that's on the screen, vs. on a piece of paper. |
Anonymous
| I'm sure it is difficult in Chinese. We have a hard enough time for Spanish. Even buying sufficient quantities of books for home is difficult. We have hundreds of English books, as we are able to make good use of thrift stores, but only about 20 or so Spanish books, as they are so expensive when new. |
Anonymous
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Recent article in WaPo (will try and find link) discussed recent study suggesting reading on a screen vs a book is different. Your brain tends to "scan" material on a screen so it affects comprehension. This doesn't mean it is a bad thing. Scanning is often all that is needed. Reading a fiction book requires more than scanning. I think there was a similar study showing how typing notes is not as effective in helping kids learn ?
If anybody has information or can find the link, please share. I am not an expert and haven't read the full study. Please also share any post showing benefits of using the computer during. I think discussing research (both good and bad) would be helpful |
Anonymous
I've read similar recent studies, will look for links later. Studies I read came to 2 conclusions: 1) reading on tablets vs. physical books affects reading comprehension and retention in a negative way (reading books = more comprehension and retention); and 2) excessive time on tablets/technology negatively impacts executive functioning later (still early to do really long-term longitudinal studies, but that's what the early studies are showing)(defining "excessive" is still going on, but a majority of instruction and assignments on tablets definitely meets any definitions of "excessive" for children (even older children) that I've seen). |
Anonymous
| I know that when I need to study or really focus on something for work, I usually print it out or read in hard copy rather than online. It may not be the case for everyone, but I absorb material better in printed rather than digital format. |
Anonymous
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I think it is also important to remember that the kids are still growing. Brains are immature and could be more/differently affected by screen time (maybe).
One thing which has been demonstrated in numerous studies is that screen time depresses melatonin production which can delay sleep onset and affect quality of sleep. Lack of good quality sleep has been associated with higher rates of depression and obesity. Again, not sure what all of this means. If anybody has information about the risks and benefits of computers/screen time, please share. I think any information can be helpful to parents who are trying to make a decision about what works for their kids and family. |
Anonymous
How many friends does your DD have at YY. And to answer PP's question, that question cannot be accurately answered until DCI first day of class 2015. I know of parents who are committing to YY but are still playing the myschool lottery and/or vacillating about private/parochial. |
Anonymous
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Here is a link on article.
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/reading-paper-screens/ |
Anonymous
| I must be getting stupid since I read and write everything on a screen. I'm a lawyer. |