Computers Counterproductive in Classroom

Evidence continues to mount that our Chromebook initiative was a poor decision:

A report issued by the UK's Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development has evaluated how technology in classrooms affects test results, and found that the availability of computers provides "no noticeable improvement" to students' test scores. According to the report, "Students who use computers very frequently at school get worse results." Also, "high achieving school systems such as South Korea and Shanghai in China have lower levels of computer use in school." The organization warns that classroom technology can be a distraction if implemented unwisely, and it also opens the door to easy ways of cheating. [HT:/.]

Sticker Shock

The Social Media world and my personal phone went ablaze when Registration Fees came due this year. So many families wanted to know why their fees went up so dramatically. If your kids are in elementary school, the check you wrote to the School District roughly doubled. It was a tough pill to swallow for so many who are on tight budgets, and just about everyone complained about these fees in light of our high property taxes.

Registration Fees grew so much because the Chromebook initiative has finally come to all grade levels. Every student pays an additional $75 per year to help fund the Chromebooks and tablets. I still maintain that using technology in this way is a bad idea for our district--let's stick to computer labs and home computers. Studies are showing that using personal technology in the classroom is distracting and inhibits long-term memory [c.f. The Pen Is Mightier than the Keyboard, Mueller & Oppenheimer]. So far the District has ignored the science and refuses to comment on these issues.

Here was GROBatavia's FAQ position on Technology:

We favor the use of strategic technology and its proper use in the classroom. We recognize that technology can unlock greater potential in education under proper application. The District, however, has pursued an initiative that requires every K-12 student to purchase and use a personal device, and it raises a few concerns. The District has not demonstrated the rationale or benefits of a personal device for younger elementary students, such as Kindergartners, nor have they justified the requirement of personal devices in the classroom over community resources like computer labs. Costs are a significant factor to the District (approx. $500,000 per year) as well as to families ($75 per student per year), especially when many families could provide a compatible device. Teacher feedback on the initiative has been anemic and parental input has been unwanted by the Board [except for one current School Board Member]. The District must provide justification beyond hearsay and anecdotes.

We are pro-technology, yet it will never be a substitute for caring teachers that will guide, motivate, challenge, and hold the students accountable for doing the work of learning. We encourage you to watch  a short video by Derek Muller called This Will Revolutionize Education [or start from the Main Thesis].