DCI: Too much focus on tablets/devices?

[Anonymous]

Not everyone at a DCI feeder is concerned with their use of tech. We are at a feeder and like their use of tech in the classroom: Talking to parents who have their older kids at DCI at our feeder, DCI use of tech is not a deal breaker and most are very satisfied with the school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:except the "feeder" parents on here do not express this at their feeder schools or at appropriate feeder forums, so it does make one wonder if the ones who keep this thread alive (and as soon as it goes off page 1 bring it back every week really are at feeders or if they are just trolls. The heads of all feeder schools are on the DCI board and they are not hearing this at their schools.
we all know there is much jealousy and crab in a bucket mentality out there in dcum land, so one could assume that these are folks who are angry that dci exists (just like the basis/latin/cc haters) or that they are trolls who don't know what is going on at dci so they're just making things up/going on hearsay and then spreading misinformation and lies.
we are from a feeder and feel very blessed to be at dci. the technology is an asset and we do not feel that there is too much screen time---in fact we feel that the technology has given our children (we have 2 pioneers) much more than they would have gotten at their assigned middle school, in addition to the great teachers. admittedly, the space is not great, but it will be in the future and it is certainly worth the trade off.
i keep wondering why no one starts a general tech-in-school thread since there are other schools like Haynes who do 1:1. is the lack of complaints about Haynes indicative that this is perhaps only a yuppy parent thing, or is it more insidious in that a small group of trolls are really invested in hurting dci with 37 pages of attacks? kaya, is that you? worried about roosevelt since dci wouldn't play ball with you?

I am 11:44. You must be a parent that started out at my kid's current DCI feeder school. Every single time a parent posted a concern on the school listserve, we always had one of you who tried to start the conversation by calling parents names. Our listserve has basically turned into an informercial for lost and found; is school in today; or, camp availability. Nothing substantial is posted because people got tired of people like you making excuses and calling names. Now you come on here and pull the same tactics because people have questions and concerns. Bravo!

Have not seen the tech issue at DCI or at our DCI feeder raised in our feeder's listserve this school year. This issue seems more a concern on DCUM then anywhere else. We are currently at a feeder and perfectly ok with their use of tech.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:New poster: So don't go? Seriously. Just wondering. I don't know why you'd want to go if you so vehemently disagree with a school's policy?

Point to one single post that "vehemently disagrees with the school's policy"? Parts of the policy or aspects, yes. Concern about the overall amount of screen time, yes. But no one here is anti-use of chromebooks at all. No one here is anti-language focus. No one has said anything that amounts to "vehement opposition to DCI", but if I'm missing the 1 or 2 posts that are, please do quote them here.

[Anonymous]

I don't know much about Haynes at all but I am curious about the PP who said Haynes MS stopped giving kids laptops? Just curious if this is true?

[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 pose this question in order to better understand the main technology concerns. In the end DCI will not be the choice for every parent and that's fine. However, there are some issues that need to be tweaked. In my opinion, we the current DCI parents and administration are working towards better technology usage within the school.

There are plenty of parents who overall are happy with DCI. I am one of them. However, I do understand the concerns of some parent current DCI parents and potential parents. Every school even the top schools in the country have to make adjustments as the demands of society change (technology, healthy lunch options, and change curriculum, etc..) DCI is in it's first year and I have seen changes in both technology uses, classes offered, and after school programs based on the needs/wants of the students and their parents. As the school year draws closer to summer break, I am certain that there will be some adjustments made during the summer as the school continues tho grow and shape it's identity.

I attempt to provide an accurate picture of DCI based on my and my child's experience. I'm sure that many of the teachers are also adjusting to use of technology and may have not been monitoring the usage like that should. As for my child (7th grade Chinese), his teachers have them close the Chromebook when not use and have shut his computer down remotely when he was found to be off task.

A vast majority of the students are not on there Chromebooks during brunch and lunch. The administration has been working to draw those students into clubs and activities during this time period.

Current DCI parents and administration need to continue to work to push DCI to be the best that it can be for our children.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't know much about Haynes at all but I am curious about the PP who said Haynes MS stopped giving kids laptops? Just curious if this is true?

Haynes' 1:1 program has always only been in the HS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:except the "feeder" parents on here do not express this at their feeder schools or at appropriate feeder forums, so it does make one wonder if the ones who keep this thread alive (and as soon as it goes off page 1 bring it back every week really are at feeders or if they are just trolls. The heads of all feeder schools are on the DCI board and they are not hearing this at their schools.
we all know there is much jealousy and crab in a bucket mentality out there in dcum land, so one could assume that these are folks who are angry that dci exists (just like the basis/latin/cc haters) or that they are trolls who don't know what is going on at dci so they're just making things up/going on hearsay and then spreading misinformation and lies.
we are from a feeder and feel very blessed to be at dci. the technology is an asset and we do not feel that there is too much screen time---in fact we feel that the technology has given our children (we have 2 pioneers) much more than they would have gotten at their assigned middle school, in addition to the great teachers. admittedly, the space is not great, but it will be in the future and it is certainly worth the trade off.
i keep wondering why no one starts a general tech-in-school thread since there are other schools like Haynes who do 1:1. is the lack of complaints about Haynes indicative that this is perhaps only a yuppy parent thing, or is it more insidious in that a small group of trolls are really invested in hurting dci with 37 pages of attacks? kaya, is that you? worried about roosevelt since dci wouldn't play ball with you?

I am 11:44. You must be a parent that started out at my kid's current DCI feeder school. Every single time a parent posted a concern on the school listserve, we always had one of you who tried to start the conversation by calling parents names. Our listserve has basically turned into an informercial for lost and found; is school in today; or, camp availability. Nothing substantial is posted because people got tired of people like you making excuses and calling names. Now you come on here and pull the same tactics because people have questions and concerns. Bravo!

Have not seen the tech issue at DCI or at our DCI feeder raised in our feeder's listserve this school year. This issue seems more a concern on DCUM then anywhere else. We are currently at a feeder and perfectly ok with their use of tech.

It was raised on the YY listserve once and people were asked to take the issue offline or create a facebook page.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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 pose this question in order to better understand the main technology concerns. In the end DCI will not be the choice for every parent and that's fine. However, there are some issues that need to be tweaked. In my opinion, we the current DCI parents and administration are working towards better technology usage within the school.

There are plenty of parents who overall are happy with DCI. I am one of them. However, I do understand the concerns of some parent current DCI parents and potential parents. Every school even the top schools in the country have to make adjustments as the demands of society change (technology, healthy lunch options, and change curriculum, etc..) DCI is in it's first year and I have seen changes in both technology uses, classes offered, and after school programs based on the needs/wants of the students and their parents. As the school year draws closer to summer break, I am certain that there will be some adjustments made during the summer as the school continues tho grow and shape it's identity.

I attempt to provide an accurate picture of DCI based on my and my child's experience. I'm sure that many of the teachers are also adjusting to use of technology and may have not been monitoring the usage like that should. As for my child (7th grade Chinese), his teachers have them close the Chromebook when not use and have shut his computer down remotely when he was found to be off task.

A vast majority of the students are not on there Chromebooks during brunch and lunch. The administration has been working to draw those students into clubs and activities during this time period.

Current DCI parents and administration need to continue to work to push DCI to be the best that it can be for our children.

Thank you for the update.

[Anonymous]

Do you think the administration will provide parents at feeder schools with information about changes? I feel as though the administration has not been ready to engage potential families in any discussion (as evidence by what I saw at an open house) and it is difficult to get any sense of how the computers are being used (except that they are off 50% but no further details were provided). I guess the sense of the unknown as well as the reaction of the administration continue to fuel my unease.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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 pose this question in order to better understand the main technology concerns. In the end DCI will not be the choice for every parent and that's fine. However, there are some issues that need to be tweaked. In my opinion, we the current DCI parents and administration are working towards better technology usage within the school.

There are plenty of parents who overall are happy with DCI. I am one of them. However, I do understand the concerns of some parent current DCI parents and potential parents. Every school even the top schools in the country have to make adjustments as the demands of society change (technology, healthy lunch options, and change curriculum, etc..) DCI is in it's first year and I have seen changes in both technology uses, classes offered, and after school programs based on the needs/wants of the students and their parents. As the school year draws closer to summer break, I am certain that there will be some adjustments made during the summer as the school continues tho grow and shape it's identity.

I attempt to provide an accurate picture of DCI based on my and my child's experience. I'm sure that many of the teachers are also adjusting to use of technology and may have not been monitoring the usage like that should. As for my child (7th grade Chinese), his teachers have them close the Chromebook when not use and have shut his computer down remotely when he was found to be off task.

A vast majority of the students are not on there Chromebooks during brunch and lunch. The administration has been working to draw those students into clubs and activities during this time period.

Current DCI parents and administration need to continue to work to push DCI to be the best that it can be for our children.

PP you just, in one post, made me feel a lot better about DCI. (Or in 2 posts since I think you mean you're the one who originally asked for input.) It is very very heartening to know that, while there is so much that is going well at DCI this year and a lot of happy parents, that doesn't mean there are no tweaks to be made. Maybe some of them important ones. Thank you for this update, and more than anything thank you for letting us know that these concerns are understood and are considered. No plan will make everyone happy, but the fact that the school is paying attention and realizes there are some changes they already know need to be made, and others they will look into and consider, makes all the difference in the world. Thank you for updating!

[Anonymous]

Great interview on WYPR with Naomi Baron who just wrote book Words on Screen. Will follow up later with link but tune in now if interested

[Anonymous]

okay, here is the link to the program on WYPR (baltimore public radio)

http://wypr.org/programs/midday-dan-rodricks

and a link to the AU profile of the guest

http://www.american.edu/cas/faculty/nbaron.cfm

I haven't read any of her books but they sound interesting.

[Anonymous]

Sorry if my previous post didn't make sense. Naomi
Baron is a linguist at AU who did the study showing why 18-35 yo favor print copy when they are studying or reading serious books. Baron points out there is a place for both ebooks and print. Anyway, link above is to the WYPR afternoon program and a link to her profile.

[Anonymous]

^^ Thanks for the info.

[Anonymous]

Another article... sounds pretty dramatic so I'm a little skeptical. Should probably read the cited studies....


https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/mental-wealth/201402/gray-matters-too-much-screen-time-damages-the-brain