Fayette schools to try letting kids use smart phones to study — in class
Wednesday, August 17, 2011 - 9:55pm
Submitted by Ben Nelms
Submitted by Ben Nelms
Will smart phones still be fun if kids have to use them for learning school lessons?
That question will be answered locally as the Fayette County Board of Education has given the initial go-ahead to develop a pilot program that would allow students to use their own personal electronic devices to supplement educational opportunities in the classroom.
The Bring Your Own Technology (BYOT) initiative described at the Aug. 1 meeting by Technology Services Director Curt Cearley is one that uses any technology device that a student brings to school to assist in learning.
The idea is that those devices would be used to access a filtered Internet service through a district wireless network that would be established for the initiative. Cearley added that, if eventually implemented, BYOT can be used in any grade level.
“It makes sense to capture that computing power (of student devices) appropriately and use it within the schools,” Cearley told board members Aug. 1.
While the cost of the wireless infrastructure needed to implement the program is not currently known, Cearley at the Aug. 15 meeting said that cost could be covered by current ESPLOST funds already earmarked for technology upgrades.
The Aug. 15 vote by the school board approved a resolution to begin the program process and to utilize the school system’s technology committee to create a pilot program in two schools.
Superintendent Jeff Bearden said the results of the pilot program would be brought back to the board for review and further instruction. A part of the approval process would include new policies enabling students to use their person electronic devices for classroom educational purposes.
Bearden said he did not know at this time if a fully implemented BYOT program, if it receives board approval, would be ready for countywide service for the 2012-2013 school year.
Tue, 08/23/2011 - 3:48pm
#2
Kc
The countries that are ahead of us use computers and are using them effectively today. The computer age brought information within reach of every student. Students that had access to libraries usually received higher grades on their research in my day. In my opinion, we have dumbed down our offering to students and not exposed them to the diverse cultures and philosophies of the world. . .let alone our own history. In this economy most schools will still be behind in the use of technology - but that is no excuse for being behind in having the information they need to compete. WE STILL HAVE LIBRARIES.
Tue, 08/23/2011 - 4:14pm
#3
It's not so much the libraries...
...IMHO, but more the degradation and devaluation of our educational system as a whole. Lowered standards, leading to social promotion through the grades, until - for too many - they hit the 'wall' and can't do the work. It reverberates even into colleges, for those who make it there, as there are many who really shouldn't be in those institutions. There's no shame in learning a trade or skill; our manufacturing base might be much better off if they did so. Every school has math & science books; they just need to be used - and students held to a more demanding standard.
Mon, 08/22/2011 - 5:54pm
#4
Computers
I remember when similar concerns were voiced when the home computer hit the market. A lot of resistance to including computers in the schools. It will be interesting to see how and when technology is integrated into education. There are many schools that have successfully implemented use of 'notebooks', ipad type of hardware, etc. Some districts feel that textbooks will be sold online to districts and distributed to students for classwork. Lots of bugs to work out - but you can't stop progress. STILL THE BASCIS MUST BE TAUGHT - NO QUESTION AT ALL ABOUT THAT FACT!
Tue, 08/23/2011 - 6:59am
#5
Mom
We do not have the money for this.
Tue, 08/23/2011 - 7:46am
#6
justacitizen
Not now. But that doesn't mean that any district should ignore what the future holds for educating students using technology. Wise stewards of our funds should be knowledgeable of current trends and prepared to use funds wisely to impart knowledge. Ipad type products may replace some textbooks like textbooks replaced 'slate boards'. At least there is time to study the research before investing. The ipad type technology does not involve a 'phone'. . .and educators and programmers have time to work out the 'kinks'. There are schools that hopefully will share their success and failure at using the 'new' technology.
Tue, 08/23/2011 - 8:03am
#7
DM: IDEALS again
Not now.
If not now, when?
Does that sentence about some using new tech and some not mean: those too dumb to use anything should not be bothered with it?
I think wise stewards would use wise funds wisely, don't you? Where do we find them? (the wise stewards)
As to studying the research before buying---I think that has been done.
I think the teachers are the ones who need to study at home on this one.
Waiting on someone else to work out the kinks is a lazy method.
I'm not trying to be a wise-a.., but I hope you can see why you are often questioned as to exactly what you mean!
Help, help, I need help, has been said too often. Work hard at it.
Tue, 08/23/2011 - 8:29am
#8
Roundabout
I'm not trying to be a wise-a
Really?? LOL
When a district does not have funds to support the current program, it is not wise to invest in something that they have not researched thoroughly. Teachers are not spending taxpayer money on school facilities and operations - your BOE is. When? When the district has the money to make the expenditure. Isn't that the 'ideal' thing to do? Dumb and dumber? You've been accused on this board of being the latter. But I will try to clarify. That sentence means that some districts have the money to expend - some don't. No intent on implying that some are 'smarter' than others. Wise stewards? We elect them. (Should vote with knowledge- rather than who runs the best campaign or who has the 'support' of the powerful in the community) Lazy or wise (working out the kinks) when one doesn't have the knowledge or funds to do a complete study on the new technology? Some districts receive free materials to test effectiveness - and help with working out the kinks. Your members of BOE (or instructional leaders) should be aware of this and take advantage of such offers. Helping is part of the educational process. Often its fools who refuse help.
Sun, 08/21/2011 - 9:01pm
#9
Lost or stolen tech
If my student's cell phone is lost or stolen, is the BOE going to replace it?
Tue, 08/23/2011 - 8:06am
#10
Mole: of course!
Do you also need as pair of shoes? Maybe a shirt?
Good Will have giveaways, I'm sure.
You can bet that salaries and overhead for the salaried will always come before replacement phones! School is about jobs, not students.
Sun, 08/21/2011 - 8:55pm
#11
Cost???
Note Mr. Cearly said the "cost of the wireless infastructure is unknown" but "that cost could be covered by current ESPLOST".
Why would the board approve something without knowing the cost???
How much is the cost for maintaining the system?
Fri, 08/19/2011 - 11:28pm
#12
Posting without know facts
Too many people post on this discussion board without truly knowing the facts. Do you really think the county would give our children unfiltered access to any site they please? You can't block or filter wireless access....simply not true. Of course there will be restrictions put in place which will protect our children. Students these days are much more familiar with technology when compared to students' of the past. The use of technology, in order to enhance instruction and motivate students, is a great initiative that our county is taking seriously. These "digital age" students are stimulated and motivated in different ways and unless we are willing to think outside of the box, our county could lose ground versus many counties in the area that already have the BYOT program fully implemented. Before you make broad, uninformed statements please do a little research and bring something to the table that can actually enhance this important discussion.
Sat, 08/20/2011 - 5:44pm
#13
Hi skittles
We are broke!! Lets get back to the basic skills that made this country great. Hard work. The rest will follow. Trust me on this one. We can not continue to spend money we do not have on silly programs.
Fri, 08/19/2011 - 2:05pm
#14
YO YO YO NUK_1
Get your facts straight follow the link
http://wireless.fcc.gov/services/cellular/operations/blockingjamming.html
and let's say it is leagal lets not start a new program that costs money that we do not have!!!!!
Sat, 08/20/2011 - 5:32pm
#15
YO YO YO NUK_1
You are correct. I stand corrected. But how do you block angry birds with paint? My point is the BOE is broke and asking for more money. Why are they wasting my money, your money and all the taxpayers money on this. Lots of kids do not have smart phones what will they do. The schools will not only have to be wireless but be able to block signals. Lets get back to reading, writing and arithmetic as well as basic teaching. It has worked well for years!! STOP SPENDING MONEY WE DO NOT HAVE on stupid programs!!!
Sat, 08/20/2011 - 6:59pm
#16
justacitizen: Agree!
This IS an unnecessary use of resources/money at a time when the school system is in a horribly bad financial position to begin with.
Sun, 08/21/2011 - 8:49am
#17
YO NUK_1
Ya know we bicker back an forth about stuff but when we hit the bottom line ,, we agree. We did this one our self's, however I think sometimes the powers to be lead us in the bickering direction to distract us from the bottom line which we would all agree on, but they get us to busy bickering so they can do what they want. Did that make sense?
Sun, 08/21/2011 - 10:25am
#18
justacitizen: Agree again!
While everyone was distracted, the BOE over the years really made some horrible decisions that we're going to be paying for and students/teachers suffering from. Next year's budget already looks like some draconian cuts are going to be required to even get close to being balanced.
Some of the education initiatives I feel have been big mistakes also, such as revamping the math curriculum over and over. This smart phone idea is another that is ill-advised and isn't going to enhance education at a time when cuts are going to be so deep that FC will be lucky if it can simply focus on "core" education.
Sat, 08/20/2011 - 5:41pm
#19
jUSTA, I am with you. Before we connect all the students to all
the technology let's try connecting them to the basics---pure and simple--reading, writing, adding, subtracting, etc. It is amazing how many young people cannot add a column of figures--what happens when the computer goes down! It also bothers me that we are getting away from writing comprehensive sentences--and I won't even start on spelling. I get angry just about every day when I read the AJC and see all the spelling and grammatical errors. If you call them, their reply is that spell check should have caught the error. Well, what do editors, etc, do these days? I have always felt that if you could read and comprehend and write so others could comprehend you could learn just about anything else. Let's get back to basics and then worry about everybody being 'wired' or connected.
Sat, 08/20/2011 - 6:02pm
#20
MYTMITE you are correct
As a test go to a fast food restaurant. Say your order came to $5.76. Give the cashier $6.00. Let them ring it up. Then give them a penny. They will look at you like you are from Mars. They can not figure it out they will be lost and refuse the penny saying "I can't take that I all ready rang it up". Basic math.
Sat, 08/20/2011 - 6:50pm
#21
You are basically
You are basically correct--many would not give you a quarter and pitch the penny in the drawer. Wanting to learn to think is rare.
Some of these people would figure it out except for their stupid training, if they got any at all.
Many are told, once it is rung up--don't make Any changes. They aren't even allowed to void a ticket and do another one.
That would take training.
Also, calling the ass't manager for help is a no-no. Aggravation won't get you called back for your next 10-15 hours per week.
Sat, 08/20/2011 - 12:36am
#22
Yo justacitizen
You can block wireless communications all you want without using a jamminf device that transmits radio waves. It's done with paint and has been for several years that I know of.
Fri, 08/19/2011 - 9:29am
#23
Not sure...
...but is this fair to all students? While 'smart phones' are now reasonably affordable for most, will those who can't afford such be at a disadvantage? Just pondering, but I know I spent a large amount of extra $$ on items that my kid's schools required; these phones & services can get expensive, esp. if you have to buy more than just one!
Fri, 08/19/2011 - 7:04am
#24
Filtered internet service?
Methinks it will take most kids about 10 seconds to learn how to gracefully switch back and forth between the school system's filtered internet service and a regular commercial service. At the risk of dating myself, this is no different than someone (specifically 10 year-old me) listening to the ball game (which were played during the day back then) on a transistor radio while the teacher was showing slides of plants or trees or something.
Want to have a real pilot program? Keep track of what each smart phone is doing and who is texting what to whoever. Can be done.
To make something like this work, you have to block out all other forms of internet access so all they get is the 1 network of the school. Tall order.
Fri, 08/19/2011 - 7:55am
#25
Very easy to filter internet access
Every computer gets set to use a proxy server on the network and that proxy server has an access control list + whitelist of the only web sites the user are allowed to access, everything else gets denied. The proxy server is the only way to access the Internet and workstation security prevents the users from changing any setting or installing anything. Simple.
Users may not like that 95% of the websites they would LIKE to go to could be denied, but this is a very simple IT solution to controlling Internet access and most businesses with a fair amount of employees already are doing this and have for years.
Fri, 08/19/2011 - 10:15am
#26
NUK_1, try 'ULTRASURF'
Google it.
As a general rule office workers or anyone over 20 may not have a desire to go beyond what their employer allows them to do via the WEB but students and people that live is say China want the freedom to go anywhere on the WEB.
Always remember, "There's a app for that".
Fri, 08/19/2011 - 11:11am
#27
ultrasurf is a proxy
If you are the network administrator who wants to keep employees out of non work-related websites or whatever, Ultrasurf is no problem because the your own network proxy won't allow any connections to another proxy like Ultrasurf) or any website unless specifically whitelisted.
In the above, every website or connection by default is blocked and only certain websites you specify in your proxy server/firewall are allowed to be accessed. Employees may find this draconian but it's 100% effective and real simple to setup.
Sat, 08/20/2011 - 12:58am
#28
NUK_1, without going over the heads of most on this blog
you and I could both circumvent any and all restrictions the FCBoE could possibly implement.
Hell, Version is now selling a portable, fly away system, to the public for that exact purpose.
BART is worried about people doing that same thing. What's $15 grand to the people in SV?
Thu, 08/18/2011 - 11:07pm
#29
You mean...
they are going to study "Angry Birds" on their smart phones.
Thu, 08/18/2011 - 10:06pm
#30
Let me tell you how this will go
First,If you think the students will not be texting and using their 3 and 4g signals to look at what they want to while the teacher is in the front of the class room not looking at their screens, think again. It is not lawful to block theses signals either. Second, for those students that can not afford one it will be unfair and single them out as less fortunate and we can't have that so we will use tax dollars to purchase them. The system is broke. I say stop "The Bring Your Own Technology" NOW get back to basics of teaching and stop the spending for this program we can not afford it! Just the thoughts of a citizen.
Fri, 08/19/2011 - 7:46am
#31
UGh...You certainly can block 3G/4G signals
First,If you think the students will not be texting and using their 3 and 4g signals to look at what they want to while the teacher is in the front of the class room not looking at their screens, think again. It is not lawful to block theses signals either.
Where do people come up with these non-existent "laws?" Maybe you missed how San Francisco is blocking wireless signals at one of their subway systems right now or how some businesses block all wireless signals in their buildings for security reasons? It's totally legal to block any wireless in your own building or property and a lot of schools, some movie theaters and other businesses have done it for years and still do.
Thu, 08/18/2011 - 7:49am
#32
This sounds great.
It shows someone's thinking is innovative.
Fri, 08/19/2011 - 4:00pm
#33
this sounds terrible!
I teach in this county and you have no idea how much time is already taken up trying to integrate "technology" into the class. Does anyone think that kids arent good enough with tech yet and need to be taught it some more? Please. This is just another attempt to let parents off the hook and have no responsibility towards their childs education. The argument goes like this, "I'm not a bad parent, my kid is just bored in school, thats why their failing your class so let them bring their phones in and use them in the lesson so they will be interested and get straight A's"
I cannot imagine the look I wouldve gotten from my father ( probably more than a look!) if i told him that i was failing a class because it wasnt "entertaining" enough and to fix it he needed to buy me a $300 miniature computer complete with a monthly data plan and i wont play games on it or listen to music or text my friends in class i swear pop!
i wish i had the time back i have spent on B.S. lesson plans for tech integration to use on actual basic teaching principles. I defy one person out there to say that "if only theyd had internet and smartphones in school in the 80's i woulda gone to harvard law instead of being the guy who puts the cotton balls in aspirin bottles." yeah. i didnt think so.
also, before you flay me alive for grammar and spelling remember that this is a opinions and message board, not a masters thesis.
Fri, 08/19/2011 - 11:36pm
#34
Spelling and Grammar....Thesis or not!
To Renault314:
I truly hope you are not a certified teacher in this county! Whether you are writing a thesis or simply posting on a discussion board, it sets a bad example to use such poor grammar and spelling. Regarding your post more specifically, the students would not be bring their own technology into class just because they are bored. You do understand that with all the new technology out there, teachers can connect and motivate students on a whole new level. To further clarify, no one is saying your child NEEDS to have this piece of technology to be a student in the county. For children who cannot afford the technology, there will be other options made available to them to ensure equity.
Mon, 08/22/2011 - 3:29pm
#35
Oh but I AM a teacher in this county. A good one too...
I wish people would listen to the point of a message and argue its merits instead of attacking the messenger for bad spelling..........
" For children who cannot afford the technology, there will be other options made available to them to ensure equity."
Whos going to pay for this? You want another ESPLOST to buy kids smartphones and data plans now? I think you might be on your own with that one skittles.... How about we DONT let kids use phones in class and then they are already equal!?
"the students would not be bring their own technology into class just because they are bored" of course not. but obviously you have never been in a parent teacher conference where the parent will say ANYTHING to get out of having to look at a kids homework or ask about what they learned in school. "my kid is bored in your class" is always the FIRST thing they say.
Mon, 08/22/2011 - 4:28pm
#36
Renault, Spelling & Grammar
If I remember correctly, NOONE attacked you for spelling & grammar--you called attention to it yourself in the last sentence of your post! I think the point Skittles was making was that if you realized that you had spelling and grammar errors in your post, WHY DIDN'T YOU CORRECT THEM BEFORE POSTING? Damn good question in my view.
Mon, 08/22/2011 - 4:28pm
#37
Renault, Spelling & Grammar
If I remember correctly, NOONE attacked you for spelling & grammar--you called attention to it yourself in the last sentence of your post! I think the point Skittles was making was that if you realized that you had spelling and grammar errors in your post, WHY DIDN'T YOU CORRECT THEM BEFORE POSTING? Damn good question in my view.
Tue, 08/23/2011 - 1:55pm
#38
better things to do
the reason that i dont proofread and correct blog comments is because i honestly have better things to do. It would be like going back in a diary ao notes you took in math class to correct for grammar and spelling. #1 thats not the point #2 theres no value added in doing so.
youre right, i did call attention to it, but just to ask that people excuse the fact that i dont have time to check for spelling mistakes, Im just trying to share my thoughts. I just ask that if they are going to agree or disagree with those thoughts, they do so on the substance of my arguments, not the grammar and spelling. Even still, the very first comment i got did just that. oh well.
Tue, 08/23/2011 - 2:52pm
#39
renault
You are not a teacher with that attitude and that mistaken reason.
If you have time to blog, you have time to spell check and capitalize where needed.
Shows an unorganized mind. Certainly teaches incorrectly.
Tue, 08/23/2011 - 3:53pm
#40
Round & Renault
Damn! I always suspected that somewhere down the road, we'd agree on SOMETHING!
Tue, 08/23/2011 - 4:26pm
#41
Renault, grammar & spelling
`hey, you can do as you please on these blogs--I would argue that there is value added in making corrections, however--it would keep you from looking like a doofus (as a self-professed teacher).Not exactly a ringing endorsement for your profession---but alas, I know better because my wife was a teacher for many years and I know she would be embarrassed to write poorly for public consumption--just wouldn't do it for any reason. Just one other thing--you say you don't "have time" to make corrections, but here you are blogging at 1:55--so you're either doing it on school time or you're not working---ahh, something just doesn't match here. What I do know is that if I was your supervisor ad I knew you were blogging on duty, we'd have a conversation that would not be pleasant to you. Finally, if you're blogging on duty, as a person who helps pay your salary, I protest! But you clearly just don't get it. Drive on!
Fri, 08/19/2011 - 4:25pm
#42
Renault, grammar & spelling
Your last sentence sounds like a confession--but I agree with your premise.
Fri, 08/19/2011 - 8:32am
#43
Fayette County Schools
There are schools in FC that already block wireless access unless one has the password.
...about the BASICS! As for the advent of technology in our schools, haven't we fell behind much of the industrialized world, overall, in math & sciences (if not many other areas!) since the inclusion of the computers in our classrooms? Just saying it doesn't seem like they have helped all that much, in the long run...