Screen Time. It's a hot button topic. In a time when conversations around screen time often focus on what we should take away, let's shift the conversation toward what we can create with technology, and why, when used intentionally, it can be a game-changer for all people, not just students.
Not all screen time is created equal. When technology is used intentionally, it can help us create, communicate, collaborate, express ourselves, access new possibilities, and share our voices with the world. This means designing purposeful experiences for students. Not continually sitting and consuming content or games, but for sharing their understanding of what they're learning in class.
And this is where intentional design matters. When we plan learning experiences, we should start by asking what we want students to do, not simply what technology we want them to use. Sometimes, the pushback against technology comes from a sense of nostalgia—a longing for the way we remember school when we were kids. So, think back for a moment: What are your favorite memories from your school days? For me, it was creating cardboard castles in middle school, building a tower of wooden dowels for a design challenge, and then nervously watching to see how much weight it could hold. When I think about those moments, I don’t remember the worksheets or lectures. I remember creating. I remember having a challenge to solve and the freedom to make choices. Many of our favorite school memories are moments when we had the opportunity to use our voice and choice, to make something, try something, and see what we could do. Technology doesn’t have to take those experiences away. When intentionally designed, it can give us even more ways to create those moments for today’s learners.
These two sections are designed to help you see the possibilities—and then make your move. Be sure to download the Keynote Deck at the end for quick easy access to the videos to share with staff, students and your community.
✨ Inspire
Start by seeing what is possible.
These short videos are designed to help teachers, students, families, and community members think differently about technology in education. They highlight the why behind intentional technology use and showcase the ways technology can help every learner create, communicate, and participate. When you know what's possible with technology, it's easier to see the magic that can be unlocked in every classroom, using simple built-in tools.
What Can I do with my iPad? Learn more about the video.
Accessibility Is for Everyone • Learn more about this video.
Check out this video to see what it looks like when students put these ideas into action in school at La Crosse Polytechnic in La Crosse, WI.
🚀 Act
Now, make your move.
These quick, practical videos take away some of the barriers to getting started and make it easier to intentionally design activities for any classroom, without being an expert yourself. Learning about butterflies? Great! World History? Awesome! Algebraic equations? Wonderful! These videos show students (and anyone else!) a few tools that they can use to show what they know and what they've learned across any subject, through visuals, voice and video. Learn how to create a podcast, build a Freeform board, or make a quick video—all with tools that are already at your fingertips.
Create a Podcast • Learn more about creating a podcast.
Create with Freeform
Create a video with Storyboards in iMovie
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lsU5Shbk2Gk&t=4sThe goal isn’t to add more work. It’s to make it easier to give students opportunities for voice, choice, creativity, and authentic expression without creating a mountain of extra work for teachers.
And this isn’t just for teachers. Whether you’re a student, parent, educator, or community member, if you’re ready to create something, share an idea, or make your voice heard, these resources are here to help you make your move.
Next time you’re considering the impact screen time, ask “What was the quality of the minutes spent? What did they create? Did it open doors that were otherwise closed?”
Because the best uses of technology open doors, help everyone share their voice and contribute to the world.
#IntentionalTech
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