SCREENSENSE - TECHNOLOGY USE IN D65 FORUM
Technology is playing an increasingly prominent role in students’ school experience. As a school board candidate, what is your position on 1) technology used for curricular-based activities in the classroom (i.e. educational applications such as iReady) and 2) technology use unrelated to curricular-based activities in schools (i.e. “brain breaks,” Friday Free Time, Indoor Recess, and general iPad use outside of educational purposes)? Do you believe guidance should be given to teachers specifying how much time students should spend on their iPads each day?
I agree with the use of educational applications for curricular-based activities in the classroom, if they are proven to be safe and effective. I think technology use unrelated to curricular-based activities should be minimized, and a menu of grade-level appropriate options for engagement should be developed and provided in the classroom. A toolbox of alternative, accessible activities for students with special needs should be included. Students that use their iPads for augmented communication should not have restrictions. Guidance for classroom teachers regarding iPad use for homework activities should be a joint parent-teacher discussion.
Is there an opportunity for a district-wide technology audit to determine what the benefits are to students and teachers? Do you believe that the district is providing enough research-backed data around the advantages of tech in the classroom over analog counterparts and alternatives?
A district-wide technology audit should be the first consideration for future curricular and budget planning. The research-backed data per technology tool should include the benefits and drawbacks of its use. As a community member and caregiver for a District 65 student, I would welcome more of this information. Communication from D65 in recent months has not included this.
Do you believe that there are enough safety measures and controls on school iPads? There was an example recently at a middle school where students were able to access open zoom meetings that were age-inappropriate. How would you tackle increasing the regulation around internet safety on school-issued devices? Whose responsibility is it to tackle online safety for district-supplied devices?
Safety measures and controls on school iPads are not adequate if middle school students are able to access age-inappropriate content. Evaluation of classroom technology safety and regulation development should be completed by a cybersecurity professional to ensure compliance with industry standards and the privacy practices of District 65. Internet safety for students and their parents would be an excellent topic for a community-wide discussion that could be a collaboration of a variety of Evanston/Skokie organizations.
With the recent change in D202 around personal device use during school-hours, what do you believe should be the D65 position on personal devices during school time?
The recent adoption of the D202 student cell phone policy was a missed collaboration opportunity by the D65 School Board. It should have been a joint policy adoption effort. I think the cell phone policy adopted by ETHS is a simple solution that could be easily adopted by D65. Student cell phone use should not be allowed during instructional time.
How do you foresee the future of technology in D65 as it relates to budget constraints and the current deficit? Do we have information about how much these technology initiatives cost the district on an annual basis and is there an opportunity to re-evaluate based on the financial challenges the district is facing?
The D65 budget for technology expenditures should be driven by an audit of current tools, including an evaluation of their specific impact on learning and cost/tool. The D65 Curriculum Department should participate in the evaluation. Costs may be reduced by identifying tools that overlap in scope or instruction that can be provided through other methods. The District, in partnership with the community, should prioritize technology budget reductions and be aware that specific student populations may have different technology needs. Educational media services and costs are not detailed in the FY25-D65 Final Budget.
