DCI: Too much focus on tablets/devices?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another article for those that are interested. This article mentions a Vanderbilt study that suggest typing produces better quality writing. I will try and find it.

http://www.educationnews.org/technology/research-handwriting-spurs-brain-activity-typing-doesnt/

The title of that article is "Research: Handwriting Spurs Brain Activity; Typing Doesn't"

Please STOP with this research. OK, handwriting is better. We get it. Current DCI parent here. The problem is NOT the screen-time use for educational content. It's the God Damn Video Games the school feels compelled to let kids access, in the Classroom, at lunch and just try to get a 12 yr boy to focus on homework. Whenever I tell this to friends they usually respond with Are you Serious? That or WTF?

Many in these threads are very very interested in the research and in current parents' opinions. You can say you don't like the research, but thank goodness you can't actually shut it down, because many of us want to keep reading/sharing. It is truly helpful in weighing the seriousness of the tech exposure at DCI.

You are free to make your own decisions about which threads you read, but especially this one is clear in its title so if you don't like it, why do you keep reading?

Hey, I'm with you that there is too much focus on tech but mainly because they allow so much screen time during non-class room time. I think these is a decent balance in the classroom. Would I like to see more, YES. But let's not throw out the baby with the bathwater. There are some great things about Google Classroom and the use of technology. We will never go back to all paper. Let's get some restrictions on tech where there is really NO VALUE. Games, Instagram, SnapChat... These are only distractions and do not contribute to critical thinking.

[Anonymous]

13:26. Agree with your point. Limiting use during non-class tome would be a great place to start and it would help ease concerns of feeder parents. Sounds like the administration is not open to even considering making any changes.

[Anonymous]

Here is an interesting program on screen time and toddlers (I know it says tv but discussion is about screen time). While the show is focused on preschoolers, it raises interesting points that could be applied to older kids as well.

http://onpoint.wbur.org/2015/04/01/babyfirst-tv-parenting-infants-television

[Anonymous]

Sounds like the DCI parents need to speak up more, let the school know how concerned you are.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Here is an interesting program on screen time and toddlers (I know it says tv but discussion is about screen time). While the show is focused on preschoolers, it raises interesting points that could be applied to older kids as well.

http://onpoint.wbur.org/2015/04/01/babyfirst-tv-parenting-infants-television

Thanks for the link - listened to almost the whole thing on my way home from work. One thing I wanted to mention - both Doctors on the call, including one co-author of the original American Academy of Pediatrics study, were clear that "screen time" in this context meant passive video viewing not apps or educational information presented on a screen. I think they said at one point that the original study was done right around the time the first iPad came out, when the term "screen time" was more synonymous with watching TV than it is today.

So, this information was not really applicable to the use of 'screens' at DCI but interesting nonetheless.

-DCI feeder parent, not too concerned about tech use at the school

[Anonymous]

I thought that was interesting as well and I think it makes sense.

The doctor's also stressed there are a lot we don't know about the downsides of tech exposure. Also some reading programs for young kids could be so distracting as to prevent kids from actually learning.

I really just wish DCI would not eliminate but just reduce the heavy tech focus to help mitigate any potential negatives. Smart use of tech instead the everything tech. I feel the underlying message from the school is everything tech is great because it is innovative. And research suggests that probably just isn't true!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I thought that was interesting as well and I think it makes sense.

The doctor's also stressed there are a lot we don't know about the downsides of tech exposure. Also some reading programs for young kids could be so distracting as to prevent kids from actually learning.

I really just wish DCI would not eliminate but just reduce the heavy tech focus to help mitigate any potential negatives. Smart use of tech instead the everything tech. I feel the underlying message from the school is everything tech is great because it is innovative. And research suggests that probably just isn't true!

Aren't they using tech 50% of the time, which means it's turned off 50% of the time. And people with kids there have pointed out that a significant portion of that 50% of the time is either places where every school uses tech (e.g. drafting a paper), or things like figuring out a math problem on paper and entering the answer onto the computer.

It sounds like they are being thoughtful and using it when it makes sense.

[Anonymous]

Turned off and put away? Or just not actively using? If the computers are turned off and put away then I would feel much better. Not actively using but still out and on the desk or using for 15 minutes and then not engaging for 15 minutes wouldn't make me feel better because the computer is there acting as a distraction and not a significant chunk of screen free time.

Current parents, I would love to hear how 50% works in the classroom? I would love to feel that the administration is using a thoughtful approach but I didn't get that impression at the open house i attended.

[Anonymous]

Another article for those who are interested

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/04/07/can-orange-glasses-help-you-sleep-better/?ref=health&_r=0

[Anonymous]

no one is interested.

[Anonymous]

I'm a current DCI parent who attends the technology meeting and is a part of the newly formed Parent/Teacher Group.

I know they are averaging about 50% of the school day on the computer that obviously means that some classes are using more technology than others (no Chromebook in gym)

My question is what is an acceptable amount of technology/
Chromebook usage for the parents and potential parents? What would be considered a good balance?

Is the main concern the usage of Chromebooks outside of class or within class?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:no one is interested.

Umm 17 pages and counting of discussion shows plenty are interested. Just because no one comments doesn't mean no one's reading or interested.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:no one is interested.

Umm 17 pages and counting of discussion shows plenty are interested. Just because no one comments doesn't mean no one's reading or interested.

Correction: 37 pages and counting! No question of interest!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm a current DCI parent who attends the technology meeting and is a part of the newly formed Parent/Teacher Group.

I know they are averaging about 50% of the school day on the computer that obviously means that some classes are using more technology than others (no Chromebook in gym)

My question is what is an acceptable amount of technology/
Chromebook usage for the parents and potential parents? What would be considered a good balance?

Is the main concern the usage of Chromebooks outside of class or within class?

This is great news, that there is a newly formed Parent/Teacher Group at DCI! And as a feeder parent I greatly appreciate you asking this question.

For our family (which includes 2 future DCI students, we hope) the concern is both: even if the kids are on task all day and not playing games or anything else non-instruction-related, if they are interacting with screens most of each school day it feels like too much screen time. If the vast majority of their homework and assignments will be online, including their reading, that feels like way to much screen time.

The science is just starting to come in on several different aspects of effects (negative and positive) of childhood exposure to technology, but some of the early results really call into question how much exposure is ok for developing minds. So I certainly don't have a number of hours or specific ideas about how much is ok, but I DO think a balance of classroom and homework assignments where half are online/computer-based/electronic, and half are paper/books/writing would be great.

We're also concerned with what we've heard from other current parents about uses of devices during class and between classes for non-school-related things like games and talking to friends. I realize there is some level of this that will always happen, but it does seem like if the school can find a way to limit what can be accessed through the school's internet service, and maybe work with the students on explicit conversations about school culture and why playing Minecraft or sending pics to your friends during class is a problem.

I realize DCI founders and admin staff and teaching staff have one HECK of a job figuring out how to balance the languages and the technology and merge students from 5 different school cultures into one new school. I do not envy them (and supportive current parents like you!) the work, although if we attend I will happily and energetically join the work. So I guess I want to be clear I know no matter what DCI does, there will be parents who feel like it's not all it should/could be.

All that said our family really appreciates you asking the question, and we're really hopeful that a balance will happen and that the kids will not spend the bulk of the school day and homework time on a device. Having students access and be used to and skilled at working with technology is fantastic, and a big deal. But it can be done without spending most of the day on devices. Feeder kids will spend some 7 years at DCI - there is plenty of time to master appropriate technology without being glued to it for most of the day for those 7 years. Even just 1/4 of the day for 7 years on technology is a ton of time, honestly.

Again, thank you for asking the question, I hope many other parents will weigh in. Also, you may want to start a new thread about your question, since this thread is very long and many may not be reading anymore and not see your great question. Thank you!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm a current DCI parent who attends the technology meeting and is a part of the newly formed Parent/Teacher Group.

I know they are averaging about 50% of the school day on the computer that obviously means that some classes are using more technology than others (no Chromebook in gym)

My question is what is an acceptable amount of technology/
Chromebook usage for the parents and potential parents? What would be considered a good balance?

Is the main concern the usage of Chromebooks outside of class or within class?

I am a DCI feeder parent and I am glad to hear there is a newly formed Parent/Teacher Group and that you have joined it. I want to place a few cautions on using this forum as your guide for the appropriate usage of technology and then taking that back to school decisions. I am not concerned about the level of technology use and therefore have not been a part of this discussion, until now. I know other DCI feeder families that feel the same as me, are following this thread, but don't see the need to respond. We are comfortable with the use of technology at DCI and have expressed our opinions about that in other settings, where our feedback really makes a difference. Secondly, you should be very careful when considering the feedback of any posters here who don't have a child en route to DCI at some point. This is an appropriate venue to express your concern about technology use at school, but not to influence the decision-making of the school.