Navigating Tech at School and at Home

Today we have Melissa Neatherlin on the podcast. She is the Director of Educational Technology Integration at TCA. She and her husband, Rob, have two boys who attend TCA.

TCA has a 1:1 program called e4 which embodies our philosophy which is: TCA will equip our learning community with the technological resources to further engage our students, enhance curriculum and enable all learners to use technology well and wisely.

At TCA, we are purposeful about making technology use meaningful. Students in PreK through eighth-grade use iPads. Upper School students in grades 9-12 use a Microsoft SurfacePro. Lower School
children do not take the iPads home and use them only as a supplement in the classroom. In Middle School, students begin to use their iPads daily and integrate technology further into their daily routine.

This gets them ready for the Upper School grades that use a device in most of what they do. We are unique in that we teach both Apple and Microsoft. By slowly and purposefully introducing students to technology teaches balance. Not everything requires technology.

As a parent, one of Melissa's favorite tools is the Common Sense Media website, which she uses as a resource about media. OneNote is one of her favorite educational tools, which is a digital binder of sorts. It helps students stay organized and sharing of content between teachers and students.

TCA integrates technology into our curriculum through our Upper School Student Tech Stop Program, which is internationally recognized. The Tech Stop is staffed by students who serve our teachers and other students by troubleshooting and helping with their devices. Students develop customer service skills and serve their peers in this standout program.

Another way we stand out is by monitoring and protecting students on their devices. We closely monitor student online activity and partner with our school heads when intervention may be necessary.

We have a much larger tech team than most schools. We have a strong IT support team that manages daily needs. Still, we also have a technology specialist for each school (lower, middle, upper) that focuses on partnering with teachers to integrate technology into their lessons and providing training throughout the year.

We carefully select and manage our software and spend a lot of time managing our filter. We continue to monitor, block, and restrict as much inappropriate content as possible. This is a good program for us to teach them as they grow and mature to make wise choices. TCA filters all student devices both at home and school.

Melissa recommends that parents check in with their kids about their devices, look over their shoulders, check their history and have conversations about what they are doing and how they are using their apps.

She also recommends that parents teach their kids to live in the digital world just as they do in the real world. Parents should take time to have conversations with their children about how to respond when they encounter unwanted content.

Parents need to monitor what their children are watching, playing, and viewing on their devices to keep their children safe at home. Other tips:

• Set up a home web filter.
• Keep screens in shared areas.
• Limit screen time before bed.

Melissa also stresses moderation: 

• Balance your child’s tech diet with both time and content. Use a variety of apps, not just game time.
• Set up incentives such as matching reading time with screentime and set tech-free zones.

A few tips on choosing good apps for your child are to read reviews. They are so helpful in finding out if an app is appropriate for your child.

For Lower School children, pick interactive apps that encourage problem-solving rather than more passing apps that require tapping and swiping. Games that promote
physical activity and teamwork are also great.

Melissa recommends using the restrictions on your iPhone and setting up a child’s Apple ID. Game consoles also, have monitoring that you can take advantage of.

Home web filtering is also vital. One monitoring service that Melissa uses is Circle. There are many more great options.

Resources for parents are available on the dca@TCA Resource Board. There are great articles and resources for monitoring, filtering, managing phones, and general parenting with technology.

Parents can reach Melissa on her TCA email: [email protected]

Is there a topic you'd like to hear discussed on the podcast? Send your ideas and feedback to [email protected]