You might have seen the trend several years ago on the school supply lists. In addition to pencils, paper, rulers and glue, you might have also seen ear-buds, a mouse and or a stylus? Well Desert Sands Unified School District (DSUSD) has expanded on that idea with the launch of the 1: World Device Initiative.
Starting this fall, this initiative is providing a checked out chromebook to all middle and high school students, and some select elementary students, to be used along with their textbooks for immediate access to the digital curriculum. What does all this mean to you as a parent? How can you keep your kids safe? And how can you be sure that your child is always doing their best work? What is the impact of these devices on our children?
If you were born anytime between 1975ish and 1990ish and you find yourself parenting a child in grades 2 – 12 you know how different the world was that we lived in. If we were lucky we had a VCR, and possibly a computer lab in school – but you definitely used floppy discs and dial-up internet services. Well today’s student is far more advanced. They use computers daily, and even hourly, and expect immediate access to information to answer their questions. The district believes that “in order to meet the demands of the 21st century, Connect extends the classroom experience and fosters creativity, collaboration, communication, and critical thinking.” Isn’t that what we all want, we want connected digital citizens, that are able to access the resources they need, to be their best self.
Now that you know what the initiative is, what is the impact for you as a parent? Well there is a plethora of information at www.dsusd.us and includes the following statement, “We believe that with parents and guardians as our partners, we can help our students to gain skills, understandings, and dispositions that will enable them to be responsible and safe in these digital environments.” So how can you keep your kids safe? Well the easiest way is establishing boundaries that work for you and your family. There is a powerful movement entitled #devicefreedinner where no devices are used at the dinner table. Common Sense Media has a host of tips that include things like keeping the computer in a central location, and establishing screen time limits for younger children. The District is also doing their part for families without access to wi-fi. They are checking out to students a mi-fi device that will enable students to connect to a “filtered internet experience”. Possibly the best way to keep kids safe, while connected, is to sit with them as they complete assignments and ask questions about the assignment and the impact.
The main purpose of this initiative is to provide “equity through access”. That is to make sure that all students, who need internet and a device, have access to it. It has become such an important part of our world, and we can no longer deny that it is. So we must embrace it, and teach our students how to use it appropriately both in and out of the structured school setting. According to DSUSD technology TOSA, Sally Adams, “we know that learning is not limited to a classroom setting from 8-3. As such, providing a Chromebook for students to take home every day, with internet access will enable them to continue their learning anytime and anywhere.” Our students are part of the digital world, and this access is part of their digital curriculum. Parents do hold the ultimate responsibility for the devices, but encouraging your child to garner responsibility, and to use the devices appropriately can make a huge difference in the outcome.
Where do we go from here? Well technology isn’t going away. In fact, it’s getting faster, and less expensive, and easier to obtain. Kids are becoming more and more proficient on it, and teachers are including it more and more in every-day lessons. Students in grades 6-12 now email their instructors instead of waiting to ask a question. Teachers use Google drive to assign assignments, and students are using and working in a collaborative environment to learn the principles that need to be mastered. So continue to ask questions, do research, make sure you know what is assigned and when it is due. Ask for your students Google password and check what they are doing. The district is doing their part, and we are all a team. The outcome is productive digital citizens who are College and Career ready for the 21st century opportunities that are presenting themselves.
List of common words and working definitions that you might see on district websites and contracts sent home. This is not a complete list, but one that is constantly evolving. Working definitions have been gleaned from www.dsusd.us, Common Sense Media, Google.com, and other media sources.
Digital Citizenship: One who uses the internet and other Information technology (IT) safely and effectively.
1:World Device Initiative: A 2018 initiative that allows students to check out chromebooks and other devices, along side textbooks to complete school assignments.
Mi-Fi – a district issued device used to access filtered internet for students who don’t have internet that is readily available at home.
Chromebooks – a computer that works primarily when connected to the internet. These computers have a limited storage ability and work best along with Google Drive or another cloud-based storage program.
Google Drive – is a personal cloud storage service from Google that lets users store and synchronize digital content across computers, laptops and mobile devices, including Android-powered tablet and smartphone devices.
Responsible Use Policy: This is a DSUSD document that teachers, students and parents sign every year. The Responsible Use Policy (RUP) Agreement helps users follow good online practices. It prohibits unauthorized access and disclosure of sensitive information, and gives users tools and guidelines for safe and proper use of technology.
Student Email Accounts: Students in grades 6-12 have their student email turned on. It is monitored with filters and by district personnel. Student email is maintained for six months after graduation and provides students an email that can be used for many things including communication within the district, to their teachers, and to colleges and for career opportunities.
