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

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=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?

[/quote]

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 [b]not[/b] 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![/quote]

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