Too many screens in schools? No textbooks?

[Anonymous]

It IS possible to use "screens" for effective instruction IMO

I don’t think the issue is whether technology can sometimes be helpful. It’s whether the radical shift to a technology-dominated classroom for kindergarten and first grade on up has been effective for student learning, and the answer is resoundingly no. Students read less, write less, and learn less when instruction is focused on using technology.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

It IS possible to use "screens" for effective instruction IMO

I don’t think the issue is whether technology can sometimes be helpful. It’s whether the radical shift to a technology-dominated classroom for kindergarten and first grade on up has been effective for student learning, and the answer is resoundingly no. Students read less, write less, and learn less when instruction is focused on using technology.

Well maybe its the radical shift to BAD technology that has been detrimental.

I see a lot of tech use in classrooms, and I think about 90% is bad, but 10% is really amazing ... at what it does.

The key feature to make the tech worthwhile is immediate feedback, but it has to be worthwhile feedback.

Silly games where kids move a character along some kind of path and then are asked to solve addition problems? And they fall through a trap door if they get the problem wrong? That's not good feedback.

An oral language program with speech recognition that asks a language learner to repeat a word, and then analyzes if the word is pronounced correctly (Joy School English)? That's pretty good and almost replicates in person tutoring.

A program that would listen to a student decoding a CVC word and provide scaffolded feedback? Would be priceless if it existed. One that just has them read "cat" and hit a picture of a cat? Much less useful.

Studies on tech use in schools haven't yet distinguished between the better and worse types of tech programs out there IMO.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:After touring my child's new FCPS elementary school earlier this summer, I was shocked to learn just how much screens are used (and actual textbooks are not) for learning. The admin who gave me the tour said it's much more engaging that way (meaning students are engaging more with each other and in the lesson rather than "buried in their own textbooks") but this doesn't ring true to me. There is research that shows kids don't absorb content as well when learning from screens as opposed to books, too. I am not 100% anti-screens, I get the world we live in, but any parents or teachers have thoughts/feedback about this?

I'd argue not enough screens. I would rather they learn from online books anyway.

[Anonymous]

The naturally talented students may navigate the screen use okay - but what are the opportunity costs? What are the NOT learning while scanning text on screens and doing CTRL F for word search?

The vulnerable readers and writings will absolutely suffer and get shuffled along b/c teachers can't be bothered. Kids can neither write NOR type at this point.

The "Math facts" that you'd think MAYBE tech games / learning could help with don't work either. Even my brightest kid doesn't have confident command of her multiplication tables they way we adults did by writing and copying over and over again.

The tech in the classroom increases bad behavior which then leads to teachers just assigning more so they will be quiet. Textbooks, workbooks, pencils etc. are practically free compared to the wasted $$$ spent on "tech."

The notion that TECH is teaching kids about computers is also a joke. They are apps and games. No kids are learning about computer engineering. That can be a high school class anyway. WHAT A WASTE!!!!

Lastly, the whole-cloth move to tech by public and private schools alike (outlier no-tech schools notwithstanding) with NO research showing any data or tested means to implement expose the educational consultants, Big Tech, administrations and teachers who didn't say a peep as total frauds with no common sense. I don't have to respect an entire swath of people who made such foolish decisions. I knew better and said so from day one. Why did no one on the inside of these organizations?

What a joke. Our poor children - most especially the vulnerable students.

[Anonymous]

It’s because teachers don’t know how or can’t teach anymore. Either their classroom is bananas with behavioral problems so teacher checks out and lets them play dumb education games or the teacher never really learned how to teach without relying on technology as a crutch.

There always has to be one person who blames teachers. A reminder: teachers don't choose curriculum and they don't choose how it's purchased. Some schools only purchase the online components of curriculum, so that's what the teachers have to use.

Moving on from that, I read books constantly and I am thrilled that books exist online. I couldn't afford, nor would I have enough space, to buy physical books as often as I do online. I suspect that this generation will learn to learn effectively from screens, but they need to be taught how to do so. Are old-fashioned flashcards better at teaching math facts than a timed game? Can you not learn about science concepts by watching videos as well as or better than looking at graphics in a textbook? The key to today's students is to help them gain skills that improve their attention to and comprehension of the content they see on screens. We are living in a digital age.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The naturally talented students may navigate the screen use okay - but what are the opportunity costs? What are the NOT learning while scanning text on screens and doing CTRL F for word search?

The vulnerable readers and writings will absolutely suffer and get shuffled along b/c teachers can't be bothered. Kids can neither write NOR type at this point.

The "Math facts" that you'd think MAYBE tech games / learning could help with don't work either. Even my brightest kid doesn't have confident command of her multiplication tables they way we adults did by writing and copying over and over again.

The tech in the classroom increases bad behavior which then leads to teachers just assigning more so they will be quiet. Textbooks, workbooks, pencils etc. are practically free compared to the wasted $$$ spent on "tech."

The notion that TECH is teaching kids about computers is also a joke. They are apps and games. No kids are learning about computer engineering. That can be a high school class anyway. WHAT A WASTE!!!!

Lastly, the whole-cloth move to tech by public and private schools alike (outlier no-tech schools notwithstanding) with NO research showing any data or tested means to implement expose the educational consultants, Big Tech, administrations and teachers who didn't say a peep as total frauds with no common sense. I don't have to respect an entire swath of people who made such foolish decisions. I knew better and said so from day one. Why did no one on the inside of these organizations?

What a joke. Our poor children - most especially the vulnerable students.

This!

[Anonymous]

I think a lot of it is because they don’t have any tracking anymore in elementary school. It’s so much easier on the teacher if the computers teach 10 different levels. And with so many getting pulled out for extra help, the rest of the class goes to computers during that time.

Elementary schools need a lot. I think they need specific English language learning classes to catch kids up. I also think that level tracking would help students. The ones at the bottom would get instruction at their level and same with the ones at the top.

Sitting on computers all day really changed my oldest. My youngest starts K next week and he’s never used a computer.

[Anonymous]

“Teaching kids about computers” is such a lame excuse. Kids have no trouble at all with picking up computers. I know I only had typing in school and then easily went to college where I worked only on a computer. (I had a home computer to write essays during middle and high).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:“Teaching kids about computers” is such a lame excuse. Kids have no trouble at all with picking up computers. I know I only had typing in school and then easily went to college where I worked only on a computer. (I had a home computer to write essays during middle and high).

Tech does not equal computer science. It’s a total joke. The kids pick up the apps easily at home with tv etc….

There is also a window of opportunity that closes by the end of 8th grade… if certain fundamental reading and writing skills are not mastered by this time…. And your cherub trots off to high school- they will be totally hosed. It’s extremely hard to get a 15 or 16 year old boy to spend more time reading to improve his comprehension. And the connection of writing by hand on paper with reading fluency is clear. Take that away in the younger years and the ship has sailed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Economist had a supplement on education last month. It reported that multiple studies have that the traditional methods of teaching (i.e., textbooks, workbooks, hand writing not typing, direct instruction, no screens in the classroom, and regular hand written homework) are more effective for all regular students - possibly excepting only the special needs students.

One specific type of activity I have found is very effective is used by quill.org. The program gives students two or three sentences and asks them to combine the sentences using transition words. The program gives immediate, individual feedback to the student. It almost replicates having a human tutor. I can teach grammar, and reinforce paying attention to mechanics like capitalization and punctuation, to many students at once using this program, because of the individualized, immediate feedback.

It IS possible to use "screens" for effective instruction IMO.

Here's an example of what I mean:

Patrick Henry opposed new British taxes.
He gave a speech.
The speech was powerful.
The speech was to inspire the colonists.

Directions:
Combine the sentences into one sentence.

https://www.quill.org/connect?_gl=1*10yyae8*_gcl_au*MTc0NDgzOTY2OC4xNzIyNzE1MjMy*_ga*MTIzNDc2MDg3OS4xNzIyNzE1MjMy*_ga_C0FB3VEGYR*MTcyMjcxNTIzMS4xLjEuMTcyMjcxNTI4My44LjAuMA..#/play/lesson/-KnoWhUWhtxvet4_bi4r

This is… so basic. Do you really need an app?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Economist had a supplement on education last month. It reported that multiple studies have that the traditional methods of teaching (i.e., textbooks, workbooks, hand writing not typing, direct instruction, no screens in the classroom, and regular hand written homework) are more effective for all regular students - possibly excepting only the special needs students.

One specific type of activity I have found is very effective is used by quill.org. The program gives students two or three sentences and asks them to combine the sentences using transition words. The program gives immediate, individual feedback to the student. It almost replicates having a human tutor. I can teach grammar, and reinforce paying attention to mechanics like capitalization and punctuation, to many students at once using this program, because of the individualized, immediate feedback.

It IS possible to use "screens" for effective instruction IMO.

Here's an example of what I mean:

Patrick Henry opposed new British taxes.
He gave a speech.
The speech was powerful.
The speech was to inspire the colonists.

Directions:
Combine the sentences into one sentence.

https://www.quill.org/connect?_gl=1*10yyae8*_gcl_au*MTc0NDgzOTY2OC4xNzIyNzE1MjMy*_ga*MTIzNDc2MDg3OS4xNzIyNzE1MjMy*_ga_C0FB3VEGYR*MTcyMjcxNTIzMS4xLjEuMTcyMjcxNTI4My44LjAuMA..#/play/lesson/-KnoWhUWhtxvet4_bi4r

This is… so basic. Do you really need an app?

Can you grade 30 students' work in real time, allowing for multiple attempts so they can learn how to do it correctly by trial and error with hints?

[Anonymous]

If I could find a no or very low tech school in my area, I would send my kid there in a heartbeat. But even the Catholic schools in my non-DC area use more technology than I would like. It's so frustrating. We're a minimal tech household. School is giving my pushback because apparently we're the only family in second grade who checked the "do not assign my child a a personal device to use at school or home, they will use a community device at school." My second grader does not need his own Chromebook!

School wants all technology all the time, yet so many summer camps advertise "SCREEN FREE!" because parents want kids off devices.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If I could find a no or very low tech school in my area, I would send my kid there in a heartbeat. But even the Catholic schools in my non-DC area use more technology than I would like. It's so frustrating. We're a minimal tech household. School is giving my pushback because apparently we're the only family in second grade who checked the "do not assign my child a a personal device to use at school or home, they will use a community device at school." My second grader does not need his own Chromebook!

School wants all technology all the time, yet so many summer camps advertise "SCREEN FREE!" because parents want kids off devices.

We should create a list of tech-free schools. Ones I know of include the Waldorf schools in the area and probably some privates such as St. Rita's, Veritas and Angelus Academy in Springfield, VA. Small, independent schools have a real opportunity here to differentiate themselves. Good old textbooks, pencils and notebooks are the real future for a good education. K-8th grade.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most parents in my circle feel exactly the same way as you. My kids are in middle school but if I could go back in time I would have chosen another route. It's a big regret of mine.

I’m the teacher above and if I could go back in time I would have homeschooled my own kids.

This is what I have done. 3 graduated and one left ! Never used screens for education until high school and only then for advanced work and supplementation. Wouldn’t have it any other way. My kids aren’t geniuses but their brains just work differently than their public school friends

[Anonymous]

My DS finished his second summer of being a camp counselor (he is 19 and in college). He says he will never get his kids their own devices because he's seen how absolutely horrible they are for kids. When a teenage boy says this, you know it is bad. But the camp allows it because parents say they need to be able to reach their kids at any time. Ridiculous!