Common Sense Media on Sept. 29 released a collection of free resources to support families, teachers and district leaders to support thoughtful, developmentally appropriate decisions about technology use in the classroom.
The Tech in Schools Toolkit includes three common elements across all three audiences: Age and Stage, which provides best practices based on developmental stages to guide decision-making for each grade level; Define and Determine Intentions to aid in determining how students may use different devices and software for learning; and Educate and Communicate to ensure every adult is aligned in their understanding and empowered to discuss the approach that best fits their students’ needs.
The toolkit also includes resources tailored to the needs of each audience, including a glossary of terms to aid in a better understanding of technology in schools, templates and presentations for educators to help drive effective communication around tech with families, and a guide to support administrators in establishing and defining your approach to technology in schools.
“Schools and families are asking difficult questions about technology right now, and they should be,” said Common Sense Media Chief Program Officer Yvette Renteria. “Concerns about screen time, distraction, safety, and what technology is actually adding to a child’s education are real. This toolkit helps schools and families make those choices with purpose. It gives communities a practical way to put guardrails on where technology belongs and how schools can effectively incorporate evidence-based use of technology in the classroom.”
The administrator-specific toolkit includes a section on best practices. Among the local educational agencies highlighted is California’s Irvine Unified School District (IUSD).
According to the district’s website, the Balanced Technology Initiative (BTI) aims “to help students develop healthy, age-appropriate digital habits and use technology with intention, focus and balance. In partnership with teachers, principals, families and students, IUSD continues to strengthen technology guardrails across all grade levels so that, if or when technology is used, it promotes meaningful use of digital tools, encourages active learning rather than passive consumption and reduces distractions.”
Common Sense Media noted that while a policy that works in one district can fail in the next one over if it’s not tailored to the community being served, successful technology policies have at least one thing in common: they tell stakeholders “what’s allowed, why and who decides,” and “are written so students, teachers, and families can all come away with the same understanding.”
