Engaging students by letting them use gadgets in class
RICHLAND, Wash. -- Summer vacation is just about over and new rules will greet students headed back to school when it comes to technology. Our local districts have made changes about the use of phones, iPods and tablets.
The gadgets can keep kids engaged..but they can also make it easier to cheat or cyberbully. Pencil, paper and ipad? It's more common than you think for 8th graders like Britney.
She explains, "People bringing them, reading books on them. You can't just bring a book, you have to bring this big device."
Mike Leseberg,the IT Director for Richland Schools states, "80-85 percent of our students in Richland have some type of smart phone that they carry with them day in and day out."
Britney's mom sees the change in communication. She says, "What I've been noticing lately during the school year is that kids are posting comments and pictures in class.. 9:00, 10:00.. I'm thinking hey, they should be studying or where are the teachers?"
Richland School District realized it had to make changes to stay current with the times. This upcoming school year, students will be allowed to bring electronic devices of their own into the classroom, phones, kindles, iPads. They'll even connected on the district's wi-fi; under certain conditions. A new program will allow Richland to view any online device in the building in real time.
Britney says, "They can see what you're doing. What if you're trying to do something private?"
Leseberg responds, "We can shut down network accounts, email accounts."
Especially for postings that could be considered a threat, the ever-increasing cyberbullying.
"Bullying online, calling mean names. I've seen a lot of that on Facebook and Twitter," Britney says.
Cyber bullying has forced many schools to changing their policies to keep kids at all times.
Britney's mom approves, "If they can catch it in the act.. By all means, do it."
So that the increase of access doesn't give anyone an open forum to break the rules. Pasco and Kennewick school district officials are also tightening up their social media policies this year. Now all the schools have immediate suspension for misuse of electronics on school grounds.
The gadgets can keep kids engaged..but they can also make it easier to cheat or cyberbully. Pencil, paper and ipad? It's more common than you think for 8th graders like Britney.
She explains, "People bringing them, reading books on them. You can't just bring a book, you have to bring this big device."
Mike Leseberg,the IT Director for Richland Schools states, "80-85 percent of our students in Richland have some type of smart phone that they carry with them day in and day out."
Britney's mom sees the change in communication. She says, "What I've been noticing lately during the school year is that kids are posting comments and pictures in class.. 9:00, 10:00.. I'm thinking hey, they should be studying or where are the teachers?"
Richland School District realized it had to make changes to stay current with the times. This upcoming school year, students will be allowed to bring electronic devices of their own into the classroom, phones, kindles, iPads. They'll even connected on the district's wi-fi; under certain conditions. A new program will allow Richland to view any online device in the building in real time.
Britney says, "They can see what you're doing. What if you're trying to do something private?"
Leseberg responds, "We can shut down network accounts, email accounts."
Especially for postings that could be considered a threat, the ever-increasing cyberbullying.
"Bullying online, calling mean names. I've seen a lot of that on Facebook and Twitter," Britney says.
Cyber bullying has forced many schools to changing their policies to keep kids at all times.
Britney's mom approves, "If they can catch it in the act.. By all means, do it."
So that the increase of access doesn't give anyone an open forum to break the rules. Pasco and Kennewick school district officials are also tightening up their social media policies this year. Now all the schools have immediate suspension for misuse of electronics on school grounds.
Gee, just the thing for the continuing dumbing down of American school kids; play Angry Birds during class! Â Text you BFF about that hot jock with the six-pack in gym class. Â Get on Twitter and make fun of the fat girl two rows back! Â Who cares if they can't spell or know how to write a readable sentence, as long as they're quiet and occupied, it's all good, right? Â You REALLY think anybody is going to monitor hundreds of kids with iPods, tablets and smart phones? Â Time for a reality check, folks.