Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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?

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.

I'm sorry but this sounds like one giant cop-out to me. You uphold standards on dress, language and behavior that keep your school an effective learning environment. It should be done with electronic devices as well. Mealtime/social time is device-free. That's what our kids should be learning at school and at home.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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?

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.

You articulated, quite eloquently I might add, what amounts to an excuse in my opinion. The school is shirking its responsibility to provide an optimal learning environment on the premise that, essentially, kids are going to break rules anyway. The correcting of that behavior is too time-consuming and diminishes resources. Therefore, it is acceptable. What a lazy and irresponsible attitude towards a community, which claims its focused on making well-rounded world stewards. What a joke. I'm very disappointed and can only imagine where this hands-off policy may lead in other areas where the school needs to show leadership. Students need sharp and swift consequences if there are rules regarding gaming that are disobeyed. If the consequences aren't effective, than the kids are showing a lack of respect for authority, which requires the admin. to rise to the occasion to handle. If these kids are so wanton that you can't reign in the abuse of the gaming policy, my kid doesn't belong there. The science in clear- overuse of technology and gaming is damaging to kids. Period. Any policy or lack thereof that doesn't acknowledge that and move forward based upon what is clearly best for the kids is equally damaging. And, yet, another reason my child doesn't belong there. This DCI feeder parent will be looking elsewhere for DC's higher ed. experience. What a shame.

^^then just say. Yes, we allow kids to play game b/c we don't want to police. Period. Don't make up a lame excuse about digital divide. I

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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?

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.

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.

Anonymous wrote: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?

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.

Anonymous wrote:Based on that response I would RUN from this school and the "educational philosophy" of its administration.

If the game playing is at non-educational times, why does it matter?

Based on that response I would RUN from this school and the "educational philosophy" of its administration.

Anonymous wrote:You are completely misrepresenting the school. Go away, troll.......or at least send your kid somewhere else.

DCI admin email to current parents:
Do you allow access to computer games on the Chromebook?
Yes. Students are only allowed to play games at lunch and brunch. The access to online games is allowed, in part, to enable our computer programming class and apps/coding/games clubs to occur. Many of our students do not have access to this aspect of contemporary culture and entertainment anywhere else.

PP maybe a troll but I am not sure they are misrepresenting the school. Kids are allowed to play games during breaks.

You are completely misrepresenting the school. Go away, troll.......or at least send your kid somewhere else.

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?

If you don't find the topic interesting, why are you reading and posting a comment?

YAWN..............................

+1

Another interesting link

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/03/science/whats-lost-as-handwriting-fades.html?_r=1