Jamestown elementary school - they use iPads for 40 min a day at kindergarten classes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:Jamestown is our assigned school and I think it's terrible and sad to have kindergartners on Ipads during school hours. They can do that at home. There are so many better uses of time at school in my opinion.

Unless you have some degree in educational pedagogy, your opinion isn't valid.

Sorry, that's not how opinions work.

+1. As an aside, I'm a teacher with a pair of master's degrees and fully agree with PP.

You may need some continuing education. Screens are an integral part of our lives and knowledge and learning. Understanding how to use an iPad as a tool is critical -- if you're so afraid of the technology, you may be out-dated in your efficacy.

In second grade, my child was wrote books and produced movies with her peers using an iPad. They certainly had interaction. They learned coding and wrote games that they took turns testing for each other. It was very collaborative. They did multimedia projects in science that involved writing, video, pictures, and graphics.

All of this at Jamestown, btw.

LOL. iPads and associated apps are designed to require zero tech savvy. I think there is a place for them in schools in limited, well thought-out applications, but certainly no one will be falling behind if they don't use an iPad in Kindergarten.

-STEM person

You're a STEM person, so I guess I'm not surprised by your binary thinking. I will let that go.

I didn't say they made her tech savvy, did I? Show me where I said that. I said the iPad was an incredible tool that enhanced other learning experiences. She made a film. She wrote a book. She did multimedia projects. Yeah, she did some coding, but I realize that's rudimentary.

Could she have written the book by hand? Sure. But, it's not like that's inherently virtuous. In this case, writing the book on the screen then turned into presenting the book to parents and peers at book fair. The stream project involved photographs and video of flora that augmented her written descriptions.

It's a TOOL. I use my device all the time at work -- presentations, photographs of white boards, animated videos (I'm in marketing and communications).

This isn't about being "tech savvy" in a STEM sense. Sheesh.

Binary thinker. Did that pop up recently on your word-of-the-day calendar? Seems like you really like that expression.

As I said in my post, I agree that it can be a useful tool in the right circumstances, but I disagree that it's "critical" for Kindergarteners to understand how to use an iPad. Referring to your comment bolded above. There is plenty of time to learn how to use it as a tool (plus, frankly, it's really not that hard to pick up). In Kindergarten, there are many, many other more valuable skills that the children should be learning.

Even Steve Jobs agreed:
https://mobile.nytimes.com/2014/09/11/fashion/steve-jobs-apple-was-a-low-tech-parent.html

And yet, Apple keeps giving Jamestown awards for its integration of technology into the classroom. How about that?

And, yes, you seem very binary. That's OK -- kind of goes with the territory for coders/STEM people. You stick to creating the devices and we creative types will create the content with them.

That's the new world we live in.

I'm not the PP you are responding to, but are you really THAT naive??

Apple is a huge corporation that doesn't give a rat's ass about your kids. Apple cares about making money and getting its products everywhere and anywhere it can. Apple cares about its shareholders way more than it cares about your kids. They give these awards to encourage more school systems to use their products. It's basic marketing and good business strategy. How about that?

There is minimal benefit (or no benefit, arguably) to your kid, but a huge amount of benefit to Apple. They get the next generation of kids hooked on their products. Their parents buy Apple products because the kids are using them in school.

Actually, Apple (and many other tech companies) also care about the talent pipeline. So, no, I'm not naive. But you sure are cynical.

Did you not read the article in the link posted by 20:22? And, yes, you bet I'm cynical.

Trust me, they're not worried about the 'talent pipeline' in K-3rd graders.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Who here remembers the days of getting to go to the computer lab on Fridays to play the Oregon Trail?

The games they're playing and much more educational than what I ever played in ES, that's for sure.

We don't limit screen time as I find limiting things makes them automatically desired for being forbidden. Neither kid is obsessed with their devices, either. We teach balance and responsibility instead. My DS had a friend that only asked to come play so he could play games at our house after his screen time at home was up. He was allowed 1 hour of screen time/video games when at a friend's house and his mom made sure it was strictly enforced. But I had no trouble enforcing it because as soon as the hour was up, he was gone. On to the next house to play for another hour. This went on for a few weeks before I finally told his mom what he was doing and that if he wanted to play with my son, he needed to actually play with him, not just use him for 60 more minutes of video games. Redic.

There's a difference in playing Oregon Trail and other educational games, and downloading pictures of penises online. What grade are your kids in? Wait until they get to 4th grade and they come home telling you about the stuff they find online. You might find that it's not as educational as you think.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Jamestown is our assigned school and I think it's terrible and sad to have kindergartners on Ipads during school hours. They can do that at home. There are so many better uses of time at school in my opinion.

Unless you have some degree in educational pedagogy, your opinion isn't valid.

Sorry, that's not how opinions work.

+1. As an aside, I'm a teacher with a pair of master's degrees and fully agree with PP.

You may need some continuing education. Screens are an integral part of our lives and knowledge and learning. Understanding how to use an iPad as a tool is critical -- if you're so afraid of the technology, you may be out-dated in your efficacy.

In second grade, my child was wrote books and produced movies with her peers using an iPad. They certainly had interaction. They learned coding and wrote games that they took turns testing for each other. It was very collaborative. They did multimedia projects in science that involved writing, video, pictures, and graphics.

All of this at Jamestown, btw.

LOL. iPads and associated apps are designed to require zero tech savvy. I think there is a place for them in schools in limited, well thought-out applications, but certainly no one will be falling behind if they don't use an iPad in Kindergarten.

-STEM person

You're a STEM person, so I guess I'm not surprised by your binary thinking. I will let that go.

I didn't say they made her tech savvy, did I? Show me where I said that. I said the iPad was an incredible tool that enhanced other learning experiences. She made a film. She wrote a book. She did multimedia projects. Yeah, she did some coding, but I realize that's rudimentary.

Could she have written the book by hand? Sure. But, it's not like that's inherently virtuous. In this case, writing the book on the screen then turned into presenting the book to parents and peers at book fair. The stream project involved photographs and video of flora that augmented her written descriptions.

It's a TOOL. I use my device all the time at work -- presentations, photographs of white boards, animated videos (I'm in marketing and communications).

This isn't about being "tech savvy" in a STEM sense. Sheesh.

Binary thinker. Did that pop up recently on your word-of-the-day calendar? Seems like you really like that expression.

As I said in my post, I agree that it can be a useful tool in the right circumstances, but I disagree that it's "critical" for Kindergarteners to understand how to use an iPad. Referring to your comment bolded above. There is plenty of time to learn how to use it as a tool (plus, frankly, it's really not that hard to pick up). In Kindergarten, there are many, many other more valuable skills that the children should be learning.

Even Steve Jobs agreed:
https://mobile.nytimes.com/2014/09/11/fashion/steve-jobs-apple-was-a-low-tech-parent.html

And yet, Apple keeps giving Jamestown awards for its integration of technology into the classroom. How about that?

And, yes, you seem very binary. That's OK -- kind of goes with the territory for coders/STEM people. You stick to creating the devices and we creative types will create the content with them.

That's the new world we live in.

I'm not the PP you are responding to, but are you really THAT naive??

Apple is a huge corporation that doesn't give a rat's ass about your kids. Apple cares about making money and getting its products everywhere and anywhere it can. Apple cares about its shareholders way more than it cares about your kids. They give these awards to encourage more school systems to use their products. It's basic marketing and good business strategy. How about that?

There is minimal benefit (or no benefit, arguably) to your kid, but a huge amount of benefit to Apple. They get the next generation of kids hooked on their products. Their parents buy Apple products because the kids are using them in school.

Actually, Apple (and many other tech companies) also care about the talent pipeline. So, no, I'm not naive. But you sure are cynical.

Did you not read the article in the link posted by 20:22? And, yes, you bet I'm cynical.

Trust me, they're not worried about the 'talent pipeline' in K-3rd graders.

Trust you? Uh, no. You're not worthy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Who here remembers the days of getting to go to the computer lab on Fridays to play the Oregon Trail?

The games they're playing and much more educational than what I ever played in ES, that's for sure.

We don't limit screen time as I find limiting things makes them automatically desired for being forbidden. Neither kid is obsessed with their devices, either. We teach balance and responsibility instead. My DS had a friend that only asked to come play so he could play games at our house after his screen time at home was up. He was allowed 1 hour of screen time/video games when at a friend's house and his mom made sure it was strictly enforced. But I had no trouble enforcing it because as soon as the hour was up, he was gone. On to the next house to play for another hour. This went on for a few weeks before I finally told his mom what he was doing and that if he wanted to play with my son, he needed to actually play with him, not just use him for 60 more minutes of video games. Redic.

don't you think it's likely that mom has such strict limits BECAUSE he has already shown propesity to overuse? His overuse propensity is likely the cause not the result of her limits. Some kids and people just have more troubel unplugging than others.

[Anonymous]

OP, have you talked to the teacher about letting your child do something else? If it's required, I would say that you tell your kid that there's no screen time at home on school days and just accept that schools are going to have policies you don't agree with but can't do anything about.

Are you on AEM? A group of parents are getting together to address iPad policies (or the lack thereof) for elementary students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Who here remembers the days of getting to go to the computer lab on Fridays to play the Oregon Trail?

The games they're playing and much more educational than what I ever played in ES, that's for sure.

We don't limit screen time as I find limiting things makes them automatically desired for being forbidden. Neither kid is obsessed with their devices, either. We teach balance and responsibility instead. My DS had a friend that only asked to come play so he could play games at our house after his screen time at home was up. He was allowed 1 hour of screen time/video games when at a friend's house and his mom made sure it was strictly enforced. But I had no trouble enforcing it because as soon as the hour was up, he was gone. On to the next house to play for another hour. This went on for a few weeks before I finally told his mom what he was doing and that if he wanted to play with my son, he needed to actually play with him, not just use him for 60 more minutes of video games. Redic.

Baloney. Different poster. There is not a causal relationship between propensity to download porn or illicit song materials AND reasonable parent limits at home. If anything, the reverse is true. The studies and literature support the other posters' contentions that reasonable parent limits at home help to form a more ethical and moral child who is NOT as tempted by porn and highly sexualized material. Regardless, the schools should not under any circumstances be allowing access to this material and everything should be blocked. I do not want my tax money to pay for an 11 year-old to download porn at school and that is what is happening right now in our school system. Also, take a closer look at the games your child is playing. Some of them have hidden agendas and once a player achieves a certain level the child is rewarded with porn.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This gives me a pause. Is this common in public schools? Teachers also said that they let kids play games in iPads "sometimes". I mean, is this really necessary to expose kids to screen time? We try to limit it at home.

Jamestown has a tech focus and has won many awards from Apple for its use of technology in the classroom. The games they play are educational in nature, and Jamestown is a leader in terms of using iPads as an educational tool.

In my view, yes, it's necessary to integrate these devices in our 21st Century education.

I'm not sure why you try to limit it at home -- is it a problem for you? What issue do you have with screens? They're a central part of our lives now and a critical learning tool.

I'd actually like to hear more about this. What kind of awards? What were they for? Is there a link or more info?

I'd be interested in knowing more about how the technology is being used well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This gives me a pause. Is this common in public schools? Teachers also said that they let kids play games in iPads "sometimes". I mean, is this really necessary to expose kids to screen time? We try to limit it at home.

Jamestown has a tech focus and has won many awards from Apple for its use of technology in the classroom. The games they play are educational in nature, and Jamestown is a leader in terms of using iPads as an educational tool.

In my view, yes, it's necessary to integrate these devices in our 21st Century education.

I'm not sure why you try to limit it at home -- is it a problem for you? What issue do you have with screens? They're a central part of our lives now and a critical learning tool.

I'd actually like to hear more about this. What kind of awards? What were they for? Is there a link or more info?

I'd be interested in knowing more about how the technology is being used well.

I found this link regarding the school and the awards from Apple. Something about designing a Multi-touch book?

http://aps-legacy.materiell.com/site/Default.aspx-PageID=24177.html

[Anonymous]

How the heck are these kids using iPads that aren't blocking access to the free web?

I'd be more upset by that fact than their use in the classroom.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This gives me a pause. Is this common in public schools? Teachers also said that they let kids play games in iPads "sometimes". I mean, is this really necessary to expose kids to screen time? We try to limit it at home.

Jamestown has a tech focus and has won many awards from Apple for its use of technology in the classroom. The games they play are educational in nature, and Jamestown is a leader in terms of using iPads as an educational tool.

In my view, yes, it's necessary to integrate these devices in our 21st Century education.

I'm not sure why you try to limit it at home -- is it a problem for you? What issue do you have with screens? They're a central part of our lives now and a critical learning tool.

I'll second your focus on truly considering the type of use as the important question to ask.

Also, let's give the OP some leeway here, OP just said "it give me pause," which is exactly the time to ask "how" it is being use.

Separately, I wanted to point out that getting an award from Apple for the fact that the kids use their product is not necessarily a meaningful award.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This gives me a pause. Is this common in public schools? Teachers also said that they let kids play games in iPads "sometimes". I mean, is this really necessary to expose kids to screen time? We try to limit it at home.

Jamestown has a tech focus and has won many awards from Apple for its use of technology in the classroom. The games they play are educational in nature, and Jamestown is a leader in terms of using iPads as an educational tool.

In my view, yes, it's necessary to integrate these devices in our 21st Century education.

I'm not sure why you try to limit it at home -- is it a problem for you? What issue do you have with screens? They're a central part of our lives now and a critical learning tool.

I'll second your focus on truly considering the type of use as the important question to ask.

Also, let's give the OP some leeway here, OP just said "it give me pause," which is exactly the time to ask "how" it is being use.

Separately, I wanted to point out that getting an award from Apple for the fact that the kids use their product is not necessarily a meaningful award.

For real. It's not like Apple is an independent entity with no financial interest in the use of its products. It's not even clear what the award was for. Was it for a teacher making a book about the school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How the heck are these kids using iPads that aren't blocking access to the free web?

I'd be more upset by that fact than their use in the classroom.

Not sure about the iPads, but the issue with the Chromebooks in MCPS has been pretty troublesome. The board has not addressed parents' concerns about this at all and the kids have unfiltered access to all types of material on their Chromebooks in school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How the heck are these kids using iPads that aren't blocking access to the free web?

I'd be more upset by that fact than their use in the classroom.

Not sure about the iPads, but the issue with the Chromebooks in MCPS has been pretty troublesome. The board has not addressed parents' concerns about this at all and the kids have unfiltered access to all types of material on their Chromebooks in school.

Same with Alexandria. The children have unfiltered access on the school WiFi on their ChromeBooks. It is disturbing to hear about what the kids are downloading or viewing at school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This gives me a pause. Is this common in public schools? Teachers also said that they let kids play games in iPads "sometimes". I mean, is this really necessary to expose kids to screen time? We try to limit it at home.

Jamestown has a tech focus and has won many awards from Apple for its use of technology in the classroom. The games they play are educational in nature, and Jamestown is a leader in terms of using iPads as an educational tool.

In my view, yes, it's necessary to integrate these devices in our 21st Century education.

I'm not sure why you try to limit it at home -- is it a problem for you? What issue do you have with screens? They're a central part of our lives now and a critical learning tool.

I'd actually like to hear more about this. What kind of awards? What were they for? Is there a link or more info?

I'd be interested in knowing more about how the technology is being used well.

Jamestown has been an Apple Distinguished School for many years: http://www.apple.com/education/apple-distinguished-schools/

This is what Apple says about Jamestown:


Jamestown Elementary School
Arlington

Jamestown encourages students to become creative thinkers, problem solvers, collaborators, and effective communicators using Apple technology. Classrooms are equipped with iPad devices for students and a MacBook cart for each grade. With iBooks Author and iMovie, students choose their own modes of expression, including Multi-Touch books, slide presentations, or movies, and share them with parents, teachers, and the community. Using a variety of apps and the built-in camera, students photograph and record their observations in digital science journals. Teachers create Challenge Based Learning opportunities that integrate science objectives with math, language arts, Spanish, social studies, and technology.

For all of pp's cynicism about marketing, just 400 schools nationwide have this distinction. Jamestown is the only one in Arlington with the distinction. Falls Church City Schools have the distinction. In Oakton, Flint Hill School has it. That's it for the entire NOVA region.

Prince George's Title 1 Office is the only close-in Maryland entity with the distinction.

No DC schools have it.

This is not something Apple hands out willy-nilly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This gives me a pause. Is this common in public schools? Teachers also said that they let kids play games in iPads "sometimes". I mean, is this really necessary to expose kids to screen time? We try to limit it at home.

Jamestown has a tech focus and has won many awards from Apple for its use of technology in the classroom. The games they play are educational in nature, and Jamestown is a leader in terms of using iPads as an educational tool.

In my view, yes, it's necessary to integrate these devices in our 21st Century education.

I'm not sure why you try to limit it at home -- is it a problem for you? What issue do you have with screens? They're a central part of our lives now and a critical learning tool.

I'll second your focus on truly considering the type of use as the important question to ask.

Also, let's give the OP some leeway here, OP just said "it give me pause," which is exactly the time to ask "how" it is being use.

Separately, I wanted to point out that getting an award from Apple for the fact that the kids use their product is not necessarily a meaningful award.

You're literally talking out of your ass. You have no clue what you're talking about whatsoever. See my previous post.