I'm glad to see in this thread that I'm not the only parent concerned about so many screens in schools. Let's start a movement! Or join a movement! Let me Google which one.

Loving the nacst.org site
from the site.

What is Safe Technology?


Safe technology refers to the use of technology that supports our overall well being. It respects our physical health, our mental health, and the developmental needs of children at various life stages.

Practicing safe technology simply means using it in way that supports us and does not harm us. NACST is committed to providing parents with the information they need to practice safe technology at home and for their children in their schools.

Technology is a learning tool that should be used intelligently and wisely.

Technology SHOULD:

Be SAFE for kids' physical health, not expose them to harmful radiation
SUPPORT educational goals rather than BE the educational goal
FACILITATE human interaction
RESPECT the developmental needs of children. This means it will promote positive growth in children.
RESPECT the Environment
Be ETHICAL and RESPONSIBLE

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Are you concerned that third-graders aren't tweeting enough? Because I am concerned that kids aren't learning how to construct persuasive arguments, not that they aren't able to turn them into PowerPoints or Tumblrs.

I don't see a difference between learning how to construct a persuasive argument in essay form, oral presentation form, or PowerPoint presentation form. All three are valuable.

Well, think about it for a moment. Then you will see that "constructing" an argument is where you think about supporting facts and muster them to come to a conclusion.

Powerpoint is "presentation" not argument. Think of it as the difference between analysis and advertising. Being able to sell the argument is not the same as being able to construct a valid, fact-based argument.

The technology is tremendously expensive to acquire, maintain and train staff to use. And technology is designed to become obsolete in 3 years generating a need to completely re-do the acquire and train staff.
And besides, the learning of technology is not really age appropriate in early childhood and grade school.

If a Powerpoint presentation is "presentation", not argument, then so is an essay. First you construct a valid, fact-based argument. Then you write it up (for an essay) or put it in a PowerPoint (for a PowerPoint).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Are you concerned that third-graders aren't tweeting enough? Because I am concerned that kids aren't learning how to construct persuasive arguments, not that they aren't able to turn them into PowerPoints or Tumblrs.

I don't see a difference between learning how to construct a persuasive argument in essay form, oral presentation form, or PowerPoint presentation form. All three are valuable.

Well, think about it for a moment. Then you will see that "constructing" an argument is where you think about supporting facts and muster them to come to a conclusion.

Powerpoint is "presentation" not argument. Think of it as the difference between analysis and advertising. Being able to sell the argument is not the same as being able to construct a valid, fact-based argument.

The technology is tremendously expensive to acquire, maintain and train staff to use. And technology is designed to become obsolete in 3 years generating a need to completely re-do the acquire and train staff.
And besides, the learning of technology is not really age appropriate in early childhood and grade school.

Anonymous wrote:It's [/b]inevitable[b] that they are using iPads in schools. Children have to learn to use technology wisely, without being distracted. Maybe this is even more important than learning to use all these apps.

Someone who does not know what words mean is a poor choice as an arbiter of the curriculum.

Children need more eye contact, not screen contact.
Just went to a fancy restaurant and a group of teens was there.. all looking at their phones the entire meal.
I think we may be looking at addiction, not education.

It's inevitable that they are using iPads in schools. Children have to learn to use technology wisely, without being distracted. Maybe this is even more important than learning to use all these apps.

Too much tech, not enough focus on basics. The three R's. Reading, writing, arithmetic. Most everything else (not all) is hooey.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I'm 50. I learned to use punch cards in high school. Technology evolves rapidly, and the skills you learn are going to be obsolete in no time. You don't need to learn a particular skill in grade school to do a job when you get out of college. You need to learn to learn.

OK. How does limiting the use of current technology encourage learning to learn?

What most kids are getting from technology in school is not challenging stuff -- they're learning how to look something up on Wikipedia or how to make a Keynote presentation. It's easy, it's fun, and they're inclined to do it anyway. What they need is to be encouraged to learn to do things that are hard for them, things that they're uncomfortable with and that require them to be careful while following instructions.

I'm sorry about the person whose father is having a hard trouble learning to use a device, but I wonder if technology is being blamed for a greater sort of inflexibility, like doctors who don't want to follow a protocol because they are used to doing things a certain way and they want everyone to trust their judgment. My kids' peds office has switched to devices, and none of it looks very challenging. They're just typing stuff in instead of putting notes on a chart.

Anonymous wrote:

I'm 50. I learned to use punch cards in high school. Technology evolves rapidly, and the skills you learn are going to be obsolete in no time. You don't need to learn a particular skill in grade school to do a job when you get out of college. You need to learn to learn.

OK. How does limiting the use of current technology encourage learning to learn?

I think it's not so much about learning a specific technology -- because previous posters are correct that technology changes so rapidly whatever they use now will be replaced in a few years -- as it is about fostering an attitude of being comfortable around various technologies using them as tools in daily life.

I see on many threads here that there are lots of parents who honestly feel that technology is a negative in their kids' lives. While I obviously acknowledge that they have every right to their thoughts on the matter, it is this attitude that I hope to avoid in my kids through frequent exposure. I want my kids to think of technology as just a tool they have available if it's useful in a given situation, and I want them to be comfortable using it because I think it will be an even more integral part of their lives in the future than it is of ours now.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm not the biggest fan of all kids having iPads in school starting in kindergarten but it is the future and they need to be prepared. It's like when I was a kid and we had computers my parents didn't and they struggled when their jobs went high tech.

By "high tech," do you mean "had computers"?

I do not understand why people think learning to use a computer is so complex and difficult.

My parents are in their early 60's and my dad has struggled. He is a nurse and now everything is done on devices. The hospital got a new computer system about 10 years ago. He really struggled. Children these days and my generation of early 30's hopefully won't struggle like my parents did.

23:29 PP - We are also in FCCPS. I know the superintendent is supposedly very into technology and is pushing it very hard. At the same time, I have talked to several parents who are not pleased with it across the board, and I feel the same. I don't think the answer is as simple as "find another school." I do think that in our small school district we have a better chance of being heard. I think we should get together a group of parents who are questioning the value of all this technology at the expense of other things...and present our concerns to the school board or the superintendent. I have seen other groups of parents "advertise" in the morning announcements..perhaps the same can be done to recruit parents to discuss this topic.

Anonymous wrote:
I'm 50. I learned to use punch cards in high school. Technology evolves rapidly, and the skills you learn are going to be obsolete in no time. You don't need to learn a particular skill in grade school to do a job when you get out of college. You need to learn to learn.

This times +1000 is EXACTLY the point.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm not the biggest fan of all kids having iPads in school starting in kindergarten but it is the future and they need to be prepared. It's like when I was a kid and we had computers my parents didn't and they struggled when their jobs went high tech.

By "high tech," do you mean "had computers"?

I do not understand why people think learning to use a computer is so complex and difficult.

How old are you? Perhaps not old enough to remember people losing their jobs in the 1970s and 1980s, as workplaces became computerized?

I'm 50. I learned to use punch cards in high school. Technology evolves rapidly, and the skills you learn are going to be obsolete in no time. You don't need to learn a particular skill in grade school to do a job when you get out of college. You need to learn to learn.