As a current parent I have to say DCI delivered exactly what they promised. A great curriculum through technology. My kid loves being able to type and the organized setup of google classroom.

What we were not prepared for was the access issues we've encountered. For example Google classroom is not a locked down app, so the kids have access to the internet at all times. DCI has implemented strict filters but kids have ways of finding the latest YouTube unblockers. Games are accessible during class time but the kids are supposed to have enough self control to stay on task.
Homework is a challenge as many kids waste time toggling between homework and Mindcraft or G- chat. It requires A LOT more parental supervision.

Where I got completely blindsided was during Orientation when the principal told kids during break they were free to use their devices to chat, play games, txt parents. I personally find it odd to walk into a school and see kids glued to screens-not just the school issued Chromebooks but the personal devices the kids are allowed to have.

The school is trying to make the case that technology will help our kids compete globally. They cite 21st century skills. I believe DCI is missing the point. Most of those skills are not technology based. Important is developing face to face interactions and collaboration.

From what I've seen the administration is not interested in any research which questions their model. They also don't seem interested in having any discussion with current parents on this. At least that was my feeling from the one and only meeting the school held to show parents the technology DCI is using. Answers to parents concerns ranged from vague to non-committal at best.

If you go to an open house ask specifics. We regret not asking these:
Do children have access to non educational material during classtimes? Does DCI provided any dedicated tech free times? What is the cell phone policy?

DCI is a new school and we expected to have bumps along the way. We just hope the administration will find some balance with their use of technology.

"Especially in Silicon Valley, there is actually a trend of tech execs and engineers who shield their kids from technology. They even send their kids to non-tech schools like the Waldorf School in Los Altos, where computers aren’t found anywhere because they only focus on hands-on learning. There is a quote that was highlighted in The Times by Chris Anderson, CEO of 3D Robotics and a father of five.

He explains what drives those who work in tech to keep it from their kids. “My kids accuse me and my wife of being fascists and overly concerned about tech, and they say that none of their friends have the same rules… That’s because we have seen the dangers of technology firsthand. I’ve seen it in myself, I don’t want to see that happen to my kids.”"

"Why Steve Jobs didn't let his children use iPads and why you shouldn't either"

http://nextshark.com/why-steve-jobs-didnt-let-his-kids-use-ipads-and-why-you-shouldnt-either/

Anonymous wrote:If you are concerned about the Chromebooks - suggest you attend an OPen house and ask. At the last event they discussed them at length and the three students brought theirs, demo'd them for the parents. Parents were able to click around on those devices and get a sense of how and why they are being used.

But did any parents raise the concern about potential negative impacts on what and how the students learn? And the general growing consensus that learning/doing on computers/tablets has other health effects, like increasing attention deficit disorder and increasing agitation/behavior problems? Those are the issues I'd bring up if they do one at an hour I can go.

Did parents ask those kinds of questions?

I do plan on attending an open house to get more information but I think I have a good sense of how the students would use a Chromebook in the classroom and that is why I am worried. Still, I would like to hear from current parents because it can be heard to ask questions and engage in meaningful discussion at an open house.

If you are concerned about the Chromebooks - suggest you attend an OPen house and ask. At the last event they discussed them at length and the three students brought theirs, demo'd them for the parents. Parents were able to click around on those devices and get a sense of how and why they are being used.

There was a recent article in the NYT describing recent research that the brain processes info differently when reading from a screen vs. print. Readers tend to scan information on screen rather than focus on the entire txt (if I remember correctly).

Why did the school adopt such a radical approach and how come it is not described in detail on the website? I would love hear from current parents so I can get a better sense of how the day works and how much time the kids are actually spending in front of a screen. I really want my DC to go to DCI but this information has made me seriously reconsider

There is also research on how deep reading is lost in digital contexts. I also think there will soon be research available on memory and digital reading - you just don't remember what you have read as well as if you read it in in print (maybe this goes back to deep reading, but it is also related to, IMO, the importance of space when reading. I remember where a passage is in a book 0 which can't happen if a book is just a scroll of text. There is already work emerging on the importance of longhand, particularly cursive in learning. Typing notes just doesn't make it's way into the brain in the same way.

As for needing to learn technology, I touched a mouse for the first time at 22 and am as tech savy as any lay person needs to be. I remember using a mouse for the first time - it took me a whole of 3-5 minutes to figure it out. Except for research (which is 100X better using computers) I'd be perfectly happy if my kids graduated high school without touching computer or smartphone (and my husband works in the tech industry!)

My son will enter DCI from a feeder school next year. I was at the open house and didn't love the Chromebooks but I can see a couple pluses to them. First, since we will send our child on the metro/walking to school it makes the schlepping of a middle school/high school backpack less onerous (oldest is at Basis and maneuvers a very heavy backpack on public transit every day). Second as the parent of a child with some learning disabilities / fine motor issues and organizational challenges the ability to type, vs. write in long hand and have the assignments loaded into the school app could be a godsend. There certainly seemed to be a lot of classroom discussion, lectures etc that don't rely on the Chromebooks so hoping they aren't staring at pixels all day long but it's not a show stopper for us.

^ thank you for posting this research article. I have a kid at a feeder (will soon have two) and though their admission is light years away I would not send them to a technology focused school. Seems inappropriate and short-sighted. I hope they figure this out and make the needed changes.

Those of us with young kids at a feeder have time to engage the DCI Admins on this. I understand that this is considered a huge selling point for the founders/admins on how "advanced" the school will be, but I am a parent of 2 at DCI feeders who has been THRILLED with the prospect of sending my kids there. This would actually make me seriously consider NOT sending them there, which breaks my heart. But it's that serious, especially if there are science-based reasons NOT to do this:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/cris-rowan/10-reasons-why-handheld-devices-should-be-banned_b_4899218.html?ncid=fcbklnkushpmg00000063

Even the books are electronic? So sad to hear that. I would love to hear from current parents about how the tech part works. We are at a feeder but feeling less certain about sending my DC there. I might feel differently if my DC were in HS but MS seems too young. We try hard to limit screen time so having the school encourage would seem strange. Any other schools (public or private ) that are paperless? Also, what research supports this approach? TIA

I know a mom with a kid there and she HATES the tech part. Even the books are electronic. She goes to the library and tries to find the paper version of books. DCI said they are prepping kids for the future tech world. IMO I don't think this is necessary. My 3yr old can work an iPad and Netflix just fine. The tech stuff is just not that complicated. So happy the DCI feeder did not figure into my plans when we opted not to take our space at a feeder. The schools size will also be huge.

wow this school really doesn't understand its demographic if it thinks paperless is going to be a selling point for parents at many of its feeder schools! I would NEVER send my kid to a tech heavy school and I'm dying to get into a hands-on learning immersion school. Though a little less so right now . . .

Wow! I am really surprised by this push for technology at such a young age. I'm really going to have to rethink DCI. I guess I need to start thinking about Plan B!