Reply to DCI: Too much focus on tablets/devices?

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Does playing online games help bridge the digital divide? DCI admin claims it does.  I understand we need to bridge the divide by providing more kids with better access to information (although we often confuse information w/knowledge). But how does allowing multiplayer online games in school help? I'm concerned that DCI, in its quest to break the divide is just adding a layer of distraction. Thoughts? [/quote]

My thought, as a school administrator, is that preventing middle schoolers from accessing their devices during lunch and recess is unrealistic.  Schools that attempt to do so either end up enforcing the rules randomly, which opens them up complaints of unequal treatment.  Or they have policies that are in writing but not enforced, which sends the message to the kids that school rules can be ignored.  Whichever way they go, the amount of teacher and administrator time that is spent enforcing, or negotiating, or explaining the rules is enormous and cuts into other important parts of a school mission.

Given that, many many schools across the country are dropping policies that prohibit the use of devices during lunch and other breaks.  Most administrators in schools that have dropped the policies will tell you that they did so with trepidation but ended up being pleasantly surprised.

Do I think that playing online games "helps bridge the digital divide"?  No, but I do think it's the right choice.

If you do not want your preteen/teen playing online games at lunch or brunch tell them not to.  If that works, then great you have no reason to complain about the rules.  If it doesn't work, then ask yourself why you expect a school to enforce a rule on hundreds of kids, that you can't enforce with one.  [/quote]

You could enforce it by not allowing devices (Chromebooks or phones) in the lunchroom area at all. Perhaps if kids wanted to use Chromebooks to do homework or research during these periods they would have to go to a library or some other space. But I agree with you that if the devices are accessible it will be nearly impossible to control what students do with them.

Our kids - 8th and 5th - are allowed no game time M-TH in our home. On F-Sun they get 60-90 minutes each. The 5th grader is at a DCI feeder but probably not going to attend DCI because  we think adding another 30-90 minutes of screentime/game time to his day is not good for him. Other parents will make other choices. [/quote]

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