%20(2).png)
Analog By Default.
Screens With Intention.
It's time to rethink the role technology plays in our schools.
The Issue
Years ago tech companies made a giant pitch to our nation's schools: put a device in every student's hands, roll out adaptive learning software, and achievement would follow. "Students will be prepared for a digital future."
Schools invested billions. And it was with the best of intentions. During the pandemic, it was out of necessity.
The results? Test scores have been declining for over a decade. Attention spans are dwindling. Literacy rates are at historic lows. Extreme behaviors are on the rise. The achievement gap is widening. And students are graduating less digitally literate than the generation before them.
We recognize the mounting evidence that overuse of screens, both at school and at home, has negatively impacted learning and student outcomes, and we are committed to collaborating with the district on solutions.
What is Intentional Tech?
-
TRANSFORMATIVE | Technology should unlock learning that wouldn't otherwise be possible and not just replace paper and pencil with a screen in the name of efficiency.
-
EVIDENCE-BASED| The majority of edtech research is funded by the companies selling the products. Before any product is introduced, it should be supported by independent, replicated findings demonstrating it meaningfully improves student outcomes vs. traditional methods.
-
DEVELOPMENTALLY-APPROPRIATE | What works for a high schooler rarely makes sense for a second grader. Over-reliance on digital tools can interfere with the development of foundational skills like fine motor skills, handwriting, spelling and the capacity to pay attention. Our students need skills before screens.
-
TIME BOUND | Screen time typically expands to fill available space. Intentional use means knowing in advance how long, for what purpose it will be used, and what comes next.
-
REAL DIGITAL SKILL DEVELOPMENT| Technology should serve education; it should never drive it. There's a critical difference between learning with technology and learning about it. Schools that want truly future-ready students must move beyond edtech dependency and commit to age-appropriate technology education.
The EdTech Triangle from EverySchool offers an excellent framework to guide the use of technology in schools.
