Forgive the gap in our Warrior Roundtable communication. It's been dormant for too long. My only excuse is that I've been micro-blogging (tweeting) more these days. In fact, follow @drlrca to capture my (almost) daily Warrior tweet.
Unusual for me, but I've decided to side-step my typical foray into "why we do what we do" and, instead, address a practical topic that looms large for all of us - digital tools in the Warrior learning toolbox.
Let's be clear:
1. Under God, it is our first love to maximize learning. We are a school.
2. Digital connections will, more and more, define a 21st education.
3. Extremes are not the best refuge. Avoidance of digital learning will be fatal. Rushing into the next best digital toy, I mean tool, can be fatal, too.
4. The safety/security of our children, families and school is paramount and we are especially cautious in the digital world.
In a communication today with a brilliant head of school in Tennessee, he tells me he is in New York researching apps that will transform the curriculum of his school within sixteen months. He concludes by saying, "Crazy how tablets are going to change everything."
So, what are we doing to prepare for the change, yet undefined? What are we going to do about the tablet phenomenon?
Four things:
1. Research. Mr. Robertson, Mrs. Trieshmann and I will be visiting schools (mostly out of state), to observe successful transitions to digital learning.
2. Budget. The LRCA Finance Committee will be casting a three year strategic financial plan that will give me guidance on how to prudently extend our capacity (and trained skill) in digital teaching and learning.
3. Guard. I note below our current age-appropriate policy safeguards for our elementary, middle and high school.
4. Pray. We need wisdom and discernment. Since we are all learners, we will invite you into the conversation as we develop, propose and implement good strategies.
Policy guidance during our season of research:
- “Appliance” is used as a catch-all word to include phones, smart phones, readers, tablets, Neos. We are not including the school's instructional technology infrastructure currently in use.
- Recognizing the need for family communication and fully acknowledging the future of digital pathways for learning, we have age appropriate (for 2011-12) boundaries for use of personal appliances at school.
- Elementary – no use of personal appliances except for approved and designated use of readers and the school's instructional tech tools
- Middle school – use is permitted before and after school; use of personal appliances is not permitted during school hours - except for approved and designated use and/or bona fide emergencies.
- High school – use is permitted before school, after school and during passing periods. Use of personal appliances is not allowed during class time or organized school gatherings except for approved and designated use and/or bona fide emergencies.
- Laptops are acceptable tools for the classroom with teacher permission.
- Our handbook is clear about what is not acceptable territory for our children. Our handbook speaks to consequences of breaching our boundaries.
- If parent or child chooses to bring a personal appliance to campus, especially one of considerable value, then the responsibility for safeguarding the equipment lies with the child/family. The school does not provide locks for valuable personal property. Our track record for ethical Christian community is strong and theft is out of the ordinary. But, be warned: bring personal property to school at your own risk. We are not responsible for lost or stolen goods.
Hopefully, this quick, evolving overview clarifies our position more than it confuses you about our position. We need to be consistent; at the same time, we need to stay fluid.
I do not know what the next three years look like in terms of digital learning but I do know that tablets, apps and readers are here to stay and we'll need to have a workable, economical plan to provide a strong education that honors God using 21st century tools.
Gary B. Arnold
