I really appreciate how you connect the idea of brain rot to other forms of tech like chrome books. I’ve seen chrome book use as a consistent problem in my school as well. We also have a lenient phone policy like the one you described, but the chrome books are just as bad as the phones sometimes. I’m curious to know more about how you are creating guardrails in your classroom with tech use. I have found that I’m more inclined to use tech when it has an instructional benefit that outweighs the risk of students tabbing to something else. I use Desmos activity builder for independent practice and exit tickets in the last 10 mins of class because I can push out batch feedback much more quickly than if I was circulating trying to see student papers and verbally give feedback, for example.
Yea I agree that rapid feedback is a great use of technology. Here's how I'm thinking about guardrails for this school year: 1. I'm trying to use tech within specific routines. Mostly DeltaMath practice and Desmos activities, with clear, focused goals and directions that I give before any devices come out. 2. I'll be religious about Securly, which is a piece of software that lets us see student screens. I used it last year but my goal this year is to start really strong to set expectations and help students build good habits. It doesn't feel great to be monitoring students this closely but the reality is it's the only way to create the culture I'm looking for. And 3. keeping chunks of tech time short.
I'm also on a one-person crusade against SmartPass, our digital hall pass that becomes an excuse for students to pull devices out all the time.
You'd be amazed how many fancy features SmartPass has. It times how long kids are in the bathroom. Limits the number of passes kids can make per day. Limits number of kids making passes to one bathroom at a time. Prevents certain kids from making passes at the same time (kids A and B got in a fight in the hall, so we program SmartPass so if kid A is in the bathroom, kid B can't make a pass). Admin can look at exactly who was in the bathroom at a given time if there is some vandalism, etc.
The ingenuity of the folks who designed SmartPass is only surpassed by the ingenuity of students who find every possible way to circumvent the system.
In all seriousness, we had serious issues with fighting, vandalism, etc before adopting SmartPass. We had a set of byzantine rules governing bathroom use that honestly made it pretty hard for well-meaning kids to pee. SmartPass is better than that byzantine system. But the best approach, in my opinion, is 1) ban cell phones, that's where most of the problems came from, and 2) use physical passes.
A topic that's on my mind a lot. We switched to a policy of having students turn in phones in the morning and get it back at dismissal. I love it. A lot of work for admin, but a much better learning environment. About a week in I was helping one student and spied a student across the room staring under his desk. Before the policy I would have gotten into an argument with him about a phone. Post-policy I walked over a few steps and noticed he was just pensively looking at something on his fingers. Not being suspicious of students is great.
Also, I just read Deep Work by Cal Newport. It's not as tight as I'd like it to be, but I found some good passages I want to give to kids to read. One is about the importance of deep focused thinking in a chaotic world, and another is about how you can save time and learn more by practice deep, focused thinking.
I really appreciate how you connect the idea of brain rot to other forms of tech like chrome books. I’ve seen chrome book use as a consistent problem in my school as well. We also have a lenient phone policy like the one you described, but the chrome books are just as bad as the phones sometimes. I’m curious to know more about how you are creating guardrails in your classroom with tech use. I have found that I’m more inclined to use tech when it has an instructional benefit that outweighs the risk of students tabbing to something else. I use Desmos activity builder for independent practice and exit tickets in the last 10 mins of class because I can push out batch feedback much more quickly than if I was circulating trying to see student papers and verbally give feedback, for example.
Yea I agree that rapid feedback is a great use of technology. Here's how I'm thinking about guardrails for this school year: 1. I'm trying to use tech within specific routines. Mostly DeltaMath practice and Desmos activities, with clear, focused goals and directions that I give before any devices come out. 2. I'll be religious about Securly, which is a piece of software that lets us see student screens. I used it last year but my goal this year is to start really strong to set expectations and help students build good habits. It doesn't feel great to be monitoring students this closely but the reality is it's the only way to create the culture I'm looking for. And 3. keeping chunks of tech time short.
I'm also on a one-person crusade against SmartPass, our digital hall pass that becomes an excuse for students to pull devices out all the time.
what was the problem with the ol' slips of paper, i suppose called DumbPass?
You'd be amazed how many fancy features SmartPass has. It times how long kids are in the bathroom. Limits the number of passes kids can make per day. Limits number of kids making passes to one bathroom at a time. Prevents certain kids from making passes at the same time (kids A and B got in a fight in the hall, so we program SmartPass so if kid A is in the bathroom, kid B can't make a pass). Admin can look at exactly who was in the bathroom at a given time if there is some vandalism, etc.
The ingenuity of the folks who designed SmartPass is only surpassed by the ingenuity of students who find every possible way to circumvent the system.
In all seriousness, we had serious issues with fighting, vandalism, etc before adopting SmartPass. We had a set of byzantine rules governing bathroom use that honestly made it pretty hard for well-meaning kids to pee. SmartPass is better than that byzantine system. But the best approach, in my opinion, is 1) ban cell phones, that's where most of the problems came from, and 2) use physical passes.
A topic that's on my mind a lot. We switched to a policy of having students turn in phones in the morning and get it back at dismissal. I love it. A lot of work for admin, but a much better learning environment. About a week in I was helping one student and spied a student across the room staring under his desk. Before the policy I would have gotten into an argument with him about a phone. Post-policy I walked over a few steps and noticed he was just pensively looking at something on his fingers. Not being suspicious of students is great.
Also, I just read Deep Work by Cal Newport. It's not as tight as I'd like it to be, but I found some good passages I want to give to kids to read. One is about the importance of deep focused thinking in a chaotic world, and another is about how you can save time and learn more by practice deep, focused thinking.
Maybe I'll give Deep Work a read. I had heard of that book a while back but never picked it up. Sounds right up my alley, thanks!