Finding balance with technology - Grosse Pointe News

By Tommy Adams

Q: My child has been telling me a lot about the devices they’ve been using in their classroom lately. I don’t understand what they are doing with the technology. How is it helping them learn? We hear so much about limiting screen time, so what is best?

A: All over the country, schools of all sizes and varieties embrace the use of technological devices in classrooms. One-to-one tablet programs, apps and virtual learning are curricular hallmarks from pre-kindergarten through high school. Is this healthy for our children?

Those of us in education and administration constantly are concerned with finding the right balance while using technology to enhance learning. In an online survey of 2,462 advanced placement and writing teachers, the Pew Research Center found 77 percent of teachers polled say the internet is a useful search tool that positively impacts student research, while 87 percent say overuse of technology is creating an easily distracted generation with a short-term attention span.

This causes a dilemma for educators. How do we work in these useful tools while also restricting device use at other times? There certainly are ways to achieve a balance and if teachers are properly trained, these tools are invaluable. If children are taught to use their devices in appropriate ways and parents continue to limit recreational use at home and monitor their child’s device and social media accounts, we can help them be successful. It will take diligence from all parties.

Join me Feb. 28, for a discussion on the pros and cons of the use of technology in the classroom. I will offer tips on leveraging technology in thoughtful ways to enhance your child’s learning.

SAVE the DATE

“Technology in the Classroom: Is it the Best Fit for Your Child?”

7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 28, at The Grosse Pointe Academy, 171 Lakeshore, Grosse Pointe Farms.

Register for this free program online at warmemorial.org/familycenter or by calling (313) 447-1374.

Tommy Adams is head of school at The Grosse Pointe Academy. Prior to this appointment, he had 22 years of experience working in independent schools. Adams was assistant head of school for enrollment eight years at Mercersburg Academy in Mercersburg, Pa., and director of admission eight years at The Gunnery in Washington, Conn. He is the founder and director of The Erdmann Institute for Enrollment Leadership. A graduate of Avon Old Farms, Adams received his bachelor’s degree from Roanoke College and a Master of Science degree in education with a focus on educational leadership from the University of Pennsylvania. For more information, visit gpacademy.org. The Grosse Pointe Academy is a member of The Family Center’s Association of Professionals.

The Family Center’s mission is to serve the community through programs and resources vital to today’s families. As a nonprofit organization, it is completely supported by community donations. Visit familycenterweb.org, call (313) 447-1374 or email info@familycenterweb.org.

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