A letter from parents led to a talk around kids and technology at Bluenose Academy this week.
At issue was the school’s Technology Engagement Learning or TELP program.
The plan lays out how students are introduced to technology from grades primary through eight.
In particular, some parents didn’t feel having to buy their grade four kids iPads was appropriate.
The old school board used to help with the purchase by providing no interest financing for some, while giving an iPad to families who couldn’t come up with the money.
Since the board was dissolved, the new Regional Centre for Education has said they will no longer support that aspect of the program.
A class set will be provided instead.
Parent, Madeleine Kendall says it was never about the money for her family.
They felt handing a ten-year old an iPad created too many problems at home and at school.
She feels more support needs to be offered to teachers, parents and students.
“I would love to see a specific technology room that has a whole range of devices in it, not just the most user-friendly devices.”
Kendall feels providing an iPad for students to perform tasks they could just as easily do on paper doesn’t make sense.
And, she says asking classroom teachers to take on another task doesn’t benefit anyone.
“If we could have our children interacting with someone who specializes in technology. Who is passionate about finding ways to express exciting ways for children to interact with technology, then I think most people would be really positive about that.”
School Advisory Council Chair Melissa Risser says her two largest concerns were the cost to families and the implications of giving a child their own personal device.
She is pleased with the changes.
“It brings everybody to an equal level. I think it takes a lot of stress off students and parents. I think that it allows for more freedom at home in the evenings and I just think that this is the way it should’ve looked all along.”
Overall, Risser felt it was a good meeting.
“I think that they answered so many of the questions. And then any of the concerns that I had personally, I feel that we will hear back from them with some ways to address the issues.”
During the meeting, other parents raised concerns that previously, students bringing a personal device to class were sometimes able to access online content that wasn’t being monitored by the school.
Several people brought up the possibility this could leave children vulnerable to online predators.
Bluenose Academy Principal Stephen McGill says the school doesn’t allow students to access the equipment during unstructured time.
“So during recess time, and during lunchtime the devices do not go outside, they don’t go to the cafeteria or galley. So they’re always being supervised in the classroom when they’re using the technology as a learning tool.”
McGill adds, students would never be put in front of iPads for the whole day.
He hopes parents come away feeling like they were heard and their concerns are being addressed.
“The whole intent of the meeting was to make sure that parents feel comfortable with what we were doing in regards to technology moving forward this year and in future years.”
McGill says he is always available to answer any questions parents my have.
Reported by: Ed Halverson
Twitter: @edwardhalverson
E-mail: halverson.ed@radioabl.ca
