Parent+Workshop+Comments

Parent Comments, Questions, and Suggestions in 7 Curriculum Areas, from the parent workshop held at Kent Library on September 25, 2007 

Teaching and Learning

 * We need to know which application helps each student
 * Teacher web pages should encourage students to participate, get excited to utilize content
 * Technology OK, but don’t overlook critical thinking
 * Building blocks vs. separate topics: Does 5th grade curriculum look forward to 8th grade curriculum, spiraling?
 * Keep real libraries with books and librarians
 * Keep teaching teachers how to integrate technology into curriculum
 * Guide, not direct: teach concepts, allow students to explore, help them develop ability to analyze, evaluate what they find on web
 * Maintain human connection; local presentations add human value; personal connection
 * Communicate in global environment, but keep safety in mind
 * Make sure there is purpose behind use of technology, not filler activities, not just to say we “do technology”
 * Exposure vs. proficiency (web design, GarageBand, etc.): do we want them to master skills, or just dabble?
 * Online learning should be supplemental to classroom face-to-face learning



21st Century Skills

 * Make sure kids know what’s really happening today; sensitize them to new trends in technology in society
 * Teach kids higher level analysis; e.g., how to adapt to new software, new methods
 * Applying current technology, yes, but mostly learning how to adapt to new ‘current’ technologies
 * Students need to know how to determine which program is most appropriate for task
 * How prepare people to be ready for as-yet-uninvented technology?
 * Teach kids how computer / software / Internet / network work and connect together within a system
 * Teach about where Internet is going
 * Web 2.0: interactive, building tools we use in school, e.g., wikis, dictionaries
 * Think like a computer
 * Ergonomics in keyboarding
 * How can we keep certain skills from dying away, e.g., penmanship, or spelling?



Cyberethics, Copyright, etc.

 * Teach kids to know how to avoid plagiarism, how to evaluate validity of web sites
 * When does “fair use” cross the line?
 * Look into inexpensive rates to pay copyright fees through clearinghouses
 * How do kids self-regulate if all have laptops, how avoid using them for email, games, etc.?
 * Kids may use laptops too much, instead of playing, talking, etc.



Cybersafety

 * Do we also educate children directly in cybersafety concepts? Can we also let parents know what kids are doing in school?
 * Can we help students evaluate sites they visit?
 * How can we drive home the need for safety, privacy, etc. (e.g., not giving out name, password, etc.)
 * Expert (e.g., police officer) to determine if our Internet activities are safe
 * Summer mailing permissions for student photos on web: confusing, contradictory?
 * Recommend/provide filter software for home safety, e.g., __[|www.safeeyes.com]__
 * Parents need more guidance in ensuring home safety: kids on email, chat, IM, etc.
 * Help parents not have to resort to 100% surveillance or prohibiting Internet use
 * Be aware of “Internet addiction” phenomenon, compulsive use; include in parent education; signs to look out for; need for parents to be discerning regarding technology use; students engaging in escape behavior may be harmful to social development



Equal Access

 * School offer inexpensive laptop to those kids who can’t afford one?
 * Online / Distance learning for students out of classroom (for absence, or on large scale for disaster such as avian flu)
 * Videotaping lectures for students to watch
 * What is the current percentage of families w/o email? About 20 families
 * Must keep in mind there will always be children w/ o Internet or computer access or broadband access
 * Should children have email addresses? Parent ed: school should advise parents / Student ed: school should teach students how to use tools safely / School policy: don’t require students to use email for school project
 * Team effort between home and school
 * Think through special needs of kids w/ disabilities and special needs: to the extent possible, design projects so all/most have access (e.g., zooming software)



Student Record Keeping and Assessment

 * Is PowerSchool like Big Brother? Some families get obsessed with grades; stress for kids; but many parents prefer to have more information than less; sometimes parents need to act quickly regarding a homework situation
 * Better for students to see grades in class before they go online?
 * Teachers use PowerSchool for record-keeping; often correct papers, input grades, then pass back papers to students
 * Continue to use data to refine teaching, e.g., Data Director



Home-to-School Communication

 * Suggest web-based agenda: teacher enters info, students access
 * Calendar of assignments?
 * Parents need to know what’s assigned in order to help students get work done, to help student develop responsibility
 * Are we enabling them too much if parents and teachers manage their homework routine? Would online agenda info feed into this crutch syndrome?
 * Find balance: encourage students, yes, but not overdo it (depends on student)
 * Require students to use Internet to communicate with teacher?
 * How integral can online tools be if not everyone has equal access?
 * Teachers need to create “hooks” to get students involved using online tools
 * File-sharing, not memory sticks; e.g., schoolweblockers.com share files on external site so can access from home
 * Can we get textbook material available online to avoid heavy backpack? Or would that be too much screen reading, bad for eyes?
 * Online Board packets?
 * Update Kentfield Connections
 * Wean parents from paper. Wean teachers from paper.
 * Can there be a monitoring committee?
 * Expectations rise through grades: more web research, etc.
 * Do students need to limit screen time to avoid negative effects (hands and brains)?
 * Mac vs. PC: make sure online information available to both at home