Educators, as a collective of teachers, paraeducators and administrators, face significant challenges with high school students using social media during instructional time. With social media access unblocked or lenient cell phone 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 more. This could further include guidelines for parental communication, especially in cases where parents encourage using social media to connect with their children. Read more…
Protecting Student Data in the Age of EdTech: Best Practices for School Districts
Ensuring the privacy and security of student data in our schools is paramount. While public school districts can sometimes appear as slow-moving entities, the pace often accelerates regarding educational technology. There is a temptation to move fast—purchasing software and diving into professional development—without fully addressing strict data privacy measures. However, rushing deployment without proper privacy considerations can lead to significant agita for everyone involved.