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Beyond the Device: Overlooked Pitfalls of 1:1 Programs…and What Schools Must Do First

As schools across the country race to equip students with Chromebooks, iPads, and laptops, a critical question often gets overlooked: Are we truly ready?

More importantly, do we have the vision, support, and systems to ensure these devices foster deeper learning and not just become another screen in an already (deeply) saturated digital world?

Like many educators, I’ve seen firsthand how introducing more screens into students’ lives, particularly without the proper guardrails, has unintended consequences. The research is catching up with what teachers have been feeling for years. Read more…

Managing Digital Distractions: Addressing the Shift from Phones to Other Devices

High school students face significant challenges with social media use during instructional time, a concern shared by educators, including teachers, paraeducators, and administrators. With social media access unblocked or lenient smartphone policies, we are losing precious minutes meant for learning. Even when a smartphone or device is out of sight, the cognitive hook for a digital distraction, luring a student away from the lesson, can take 23 minutes to recover. In short, we must protect instructional time. Protecting instructional time requires establishing clear boundaries with students, which may involve implementing or adopting new policies around 1:1 programs, filtering on the device, and hard stops for usage at night (among many ideas). This could further include guidelines for parental communication, especially in cases where parents encourage using social media to connect with their children. Read more…

When Passion Overcomplicates the Solution

Sometimes, when unraveling a concern and offering solutions, we lose the forest for the trees. It’s easy to get caught up in details, and I’m guilty of this. Too much context can obscure an issue’s seemingly obvious conclusion or solution. For leaders and problem-solvers, the key is to present clear, concise recommendations upfront. If the minutiae become overwhelming, simplicity is often the best path forward.

A guiding principle I often return to is: Don’t check your passions at the door. However, not everyone shares the same passion for a particular issue. Many may lack the interest or the bandwidth to dive deep into problem identification and solution design. Read more…

Metrics of Success in 1:1 Program

As we move into 2025, a simple question I am attempting to approach through various perspectives is what constitutes a successful 1:1 student device program. What metrics are being used to support such a claim? No, gotcha; just honest-to-goodness curiosity at what you may feel makes a program successful. Read more…

Sample Post: A Smooth Transition: Helping Your Child Adjust to Middle School Life

Transitions to new offices, positions, and working with new colleagues (and much more!) are complex for everyone. Transitions can also be difficult for students moving from one of our two elementary schools to our regional middle school. With this in mind, I wanted to highlight our fifth-grade teacher team, a dynamic group of teachers who work tirelessly to support our students. I asked some of our teachers to share essential tips for parents as they help their children transition to middle school. Read more…