In our school, all 4th and 5th graders have been issued an iPad as a 1:1 device. Our goals of giving students a tool with which to create, communicate, collaborate, and solve problems are pure. Our sense of what this digital presence has for children who are 9-11 years old is somewhat fuzzy. Some of my teachers are parents, and some are not. Not that one makes a better teacher at all--but one group definitely has a stronger reality of what technology in the hands of students truly means...we see it firsthand at home and know the diligence that it takes to maintain BALANCE.
Let's be real: Kids want to be ON the device ALL THE TIME. They do not see that as a negative--at all. They get drawn into a game or other addiction online and they don't realize the hours that are whiled away. They also don't see how over time, their social skills and norms begin to dwindle. We can preach all we want about how 1:1 offers students the chance to collaborate with others and learn how to be producers, not just consumers of information...but if we forget to teach and practice communication and social skills to students, no one will WANT to collaborate with them now or in the future. No one will respect their products because they don't know how to appropriately gain others' trust.
August 2015 LEST WE FORGET...
1. Maintain meaningful and positive face-to-face interactions in the classrooms on a daily basis....Lest we forget how that it is nicer to say thank you, than to text it.
2. Have a zero tolerance policy for inappropriate communication of any type....Lest we forget that if it isn't OK to say or do in person, it isn't OK to say or do it online.
3. Generate frequent and specific communication with parents of students with 1:1 devices, explaining to them the appropriate uses of the device....Lest we forget that some parents need to be told how the devices are instructionally relevant.
4. Enforce the age limits for social media on school devices....Lest we forget that the school can be held legally responsible for misconduct through such sites.
I love technology as much as the next person. I find myself "wasting" hours on Pinterest, Twitter, or Facebook routinely. But, I am an adult (age limitations do not apply for me!) and therefore, I have certain decision-making brain power that a 9-year-old simply does not have. My life experiences have also taught me how to handle adversity, whether it is in person or online. My adult responsibilities crowd out my desire to Pin and Post on the sofa all day long. Children still need someone guiding them through these decisions. No one wants to see a child hurt-in person, or online.
TEACHERS....PARENTS.....STAY DILIGENT IN LEADING THE CHILDREN THE BALANCE.
................Lest we lose a generation of valuable human capacity to the black hole of online addictions or poor decisions.
Let's be real: Kids want to be ON the device ALL THE TIME. They do not see that as a negative--at all. They get drawn into a game or other addiction online and they don't realize the hours that are whiled away. They also don't see how over time, their social skills and norms begin to dwindle. We can preach all we want about how 1:1 offers students the chance to collaborate with others and learn how to be producers, not just consumers of information...but if we forget to teach and practice communication and social skills to students, no one will WANT to collaborate with them now or in the future. No one will respect their products because they don't know how to appropriately gain others' trust.
August 2015 LEST WE FORGET...
1. Maintain meaningful and positive face-to-face interactions in the classrooms on a daily basis....Lest we forget how that it is nicer to say thank you, than to text it.
2. Have a zero tolerance policy for inappropriate communication of any type....Lest we forget that if it isn't OK to say or do in person, it isn't OK to say or do it online.
3. Generate frequent and specific communication with parents of students with 1:1 devices, explaining to them the appropriate uses of the device....Lest we forget that some parents need to be told how the devices are instructionally relevant.
4. Enforce the age limits for social media on school devices....Lest we forget that the school can be held legally responsible for misconduct through such sites.
I love technology as much as the next person. I find myself "wasting" hours on Pinterest, Twitter, or Facebook routinely. But, I am an adult (age limitations do not apply for me!) and therefore, I have certain decision-making brain power that a 9-year-old simply does not have. My life experiences have also taught me how to handle adversity, whether it is in person or online. My adult responsibilities crowd out my desire to Pin and Post on the sofa all day long. Children still need someone guiding them through these decisions. No one wants to see a child hurt-in person, or online.
TEACHERS....PARENTS.....STAY DILIGENT IN LEADING THE CHILDREN THE BALANCE.
................Lest we lose a generation of valuable human capacity to the black hole of online addictions or poor decisions.