We believe in purposeful screen use when infusing technology with instruction. Our commitment to this work includes the following recent adjustments to the student experience.
- Refocusing Teaching and Learning practices with an emphasis on Active Learning while reducing or having targeted use of Passive Learning.
- Reviewed use of technology for free-time, free choice, or as a reward. iPads are not available as
an option at any time during indoor or outdoor recess and should not be used during free choice time or
as a reward (except as explicitly uniquely needed and specifically delineated within a student’s
individualized special education educational plan).
- Cell phones are required to be powered off or silenced and in lockers, and smartwatches kept out of sight, during the school day. The “Away for the Day” campaign has been ongoing and re-emphasized to support this work.
- iPads for students in Kindergarten always remain at school. 1st through 4th Grade iPads remain at school to charge overnight and only go home when homework is an example of Active Learning.
- A variety of filtering/blocking tools are in place and expanded both within the school’s network and for home when students are beyond the district’s network. A tool has been purchased and deployed specifically to support parents (Securly Filter/Home) in monitoring, controlling and filtering student iPad use while students are away from school and off of the district network.
- The main Generative AI chat bots forward to a secure chat experience. This is a “skin” on top of ChatGPT which has filtering/blocking capabilities and monitoring.
- A committee of Teachers, Administrators, Students, and Parents joined in work
this summer to explore the use and function of Generative AI within our schools and to establish and
communicate guidelines on best practices for Parents, Teachers, and Students.
- YouTube is blocked on student devices and networks. We utilize Edpuzzle to safely display videos without ads, comments, or recommended videos.
- We blocked additional categories on our firewall/filter for students to maintain a strict focus on educational resources.
- We offer ongoing Parent Education, and partner with FAN, GPS, and WPL to offer parents support.