DCI: Too much focus on tablets/devices?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:20:02 I can't follow your reasoning at all. Not sure how you reached the conclusion that "our students need to do as much of their reading on devices as possible, so that they develop skills specific to digital contexts."

Would love to hear more about the comparison of DCI to BASIS and other middle schools.

Doubtful many people have experience with both to compare.

[Anonymous]

Nice discussion and summary of recent west point study...

http://www.npr.org/sections/13.7/2016/08/05/488803998/should-teachers-ask-students-to-check-their-devices-at-the-classroom-door

[Anonymous]

Yesterday NPR did a nice story discussing summary of findings... very mixed findings. I think schools adopting a 1:1 program really need to review the research and adapt their programs. Lots of benefits for computer use but approach needs to be targeted. The tech is great mantra supported by DCI appears not to be backed by research.

http://www.npr.org/sections/ed/2016/08/11/488728266/caution-flags-for-tech-in-classrooms

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yesterday NPR did a nice story discussing summary of findings... very mixed findings. I think schools adopting a 1:1 program really need to review the research and adapt their programs. Lots of benefits for computer use but approach needs to be targeted. The tech is great mantra supported by DCI appears not to be backed by research.

http://www.npr.org/sections/ed/2016/08/11/488728266/caution-flags-for-tech-in-classrooms

Except so much of what is discussed in here isn't what DCI is doing - eg Algebra 1 taught online.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yesterday NPR did a nice story discussing summary of findings... very mixed findings. I think schools adopting a 1:1 program really need to review the research and adapt their programs. Lots of benefits for computer use but approach needs to be targeted. The tech is great mantra supported by DCI appears not to be backed by research.

http://www.npr.org/sections/ed/2016/08/11/488728266/caution-flags-for-tech-in-classrooms

But it is a great way to keep down teacher costs!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yesterday NPR did a nice story discussing summary of findings... very mixed findings. I think schools adopting a 1:1 program really need to review the research and adapt their programs. Lots of benefits for computer use but approach needs to be targeted. The tech is great mantra supported by DCI appears not to be backed by research.

http://www.npr.org/sections/ed/2016/08/11/488728266/caution-flags-for-tech-in-classrooms

Except so much of what is discussed in here isn't what DCI is doing - eg Algebra 1 taught online.

Seems like these studies are looking at 'blended learning' (taking classes on the computer etc) instead of the 1:1 tech policy that DCI has--with all classes taught by teachers there, in person. They are not saving on teacher cost.

[Anonymous]

Blended classrooms also use teachers. Teachers work with small groups of students while others work on computer based learning. If DCI isn't using some blended learning, then what are they doing with the chromebooks? Given its 1:1 approach, DCI is probably relying more on computer use than most other schools even if it doesn't offer complete on line classes, such as Algebra. In fact, DCI talks about how kids can learn at their own pace and how computers allow teachers to differentiate learning.

Lots of research suggests tech has many disadvantages. Does that mean schools shouldn't us computers? No, I don't think so. Lots of great ways to use computers in the classrom. But schools need to be thoughtful about how they are using them, something DCI (and other school districts) isn't doing. At the open houses, DCI just talks about how great the tech is, how it saves kids from carrying heavy books and helps them stay organized.



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[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Blended classrooms also use teachers. Teachers work with small groups of students while others work on computer based learning. If DCI isn't using some blended learning, then what are they doing with the chromebooks? Given its 1:1 approach, DCI is probably relying more on computer use than most other schools even if it doesn't offer complete on line classes, such as Algebra. In fact, DCI talks about how kids can learn at their own pace and how computers allow teachers to differentiate learning.

Lots of research suggests tech has many disadvantages. Does that mean schools shouldn't us computers? No, I don't think so. Lots of great ways to use computers in the classrom. But schools need to be thoughtful about how they are using them, something DCI (and other school districts) isn't doing. At the open houses, DCI just talks about how great the tech is, how it saves kids from carrying heavy books and helps them stay organized.



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The chromebooks to me are simply electronic binders/textbooks - that's where the students read, do their homework (math problems), and draft essays / turn them in. It's more a paperless school than a 'tech focus'

There are some things being done online - chemistry simulations - and the makers-type elective teaches some coding.

[Anonymous]

Maybe. But admin reported kids are spending about 50%? of their time Using the computers to complete assignments and classwork. At the open house, the admin were very excited to share how the computer is used in every class except for gym. The kids use noredink to review grammar and read their literature books on the computer. Of course, the irony is the students can only take coding as an elective which is difficult to get into due to scheduling issues.

[Anonymous]

Students have the choice of reading their literature books in paper format or electronic format.

[Anonymous]

But the "paperless" approach gives kids a tool that can distract them from focusing on their work. I don't see the benefit.

[Anonymous]

It would be good if they locked down the Chromebooks so they could see only approved websites or something. I don't know whether that is the case.

We're at a feeder and one of my kids is highly distractible and has exec functioning and writing issues. So I see the benefits of technology (typing rather than writing) and not having to keep track of so many pieces of paper (a major issue in elementary already). But he's also distractible so he needs to be kept on task.

How would this work for him at DCI?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It would be good if they locked down the Chromebooks so they could see only approved websites or something. I don't know whether that is the case.

We're at a feeder and one of my kids is highly distractible and has exec functioning and writing issues. So I see the benefits of technology (typing rather than writing) and not having to keep track of so many pieces of paper (a major issue in elementary already). But he's also distractible so he needs to be kept on task.

How would this work for him at DCI?

This sounds like and IEP or 504 discussion. There is software available to block all but an approved list of sites, however I could see it being very difficult for getting the rest of his/her work done.

[Anonymous]

Yes, we have IEP (now in elementary), but we're not connected to DCI special ed team.

What kind of work do DCI kids need to do outside of a list of approved sites, which would make it difficult to get the work done? Sincere question. Thanks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, we have IEP (now in elementary), but we're not connected to DCI special ed team.

What kind of work do DCI kids need to do outside of a list of approved sites, which would make it difficult to get the work done? Sincere question. Thanks.

NP. It's features like google chat which kids keep open and essentially text while doing homework. Also sites like YouTube have a lot of educational content - but even more crap. Very hard to filter out just the junk.

I wish DCI had used ipads rather than Chromebooks. Just the design of the devices makes it harder for students to open another window and go on teh internet during class -- because it's easier for a teacher to see what's up on their screens. But the laptop part of the Chromebook makes it easier to 'hide' what you are dong.