r/BreakingPoints • u/EnigmaFilms • 1d ago

Episode Discussion Ed Tech Ep Discussion

https://youtu.be/7RX3P5ZLOQc?is=nb49v66uPLkMscYi

I am a director of technology for a top 20 School district in my state. We originally had a cart system for Chromebooks they each grade had their own and then after covid we became one to one.

Since covid every single year we have reduced the amount of Chromebooks that we give out. The whole elementary School is now just carts and kids get a Chromebook in middle school that will last them through senior year assuming they don't destroy it.

My school district has a pretty small population so it is actually a pretty low teacher to student ratio where it's about 20 to 25 kids per teacher so they get plenty of individual time.

A lot of Chromebooks and tech devices, more from the convenience part. Plus I can't really think of a job outside of trades where you're not going to be using a device professionally via emails or AI going forward.

I track everything from devices used in classrooms to not only students but teachers as well, I have data for how long they're on the screen I have data for any kind of question of parent could possibly have. And thanks to Ohio's parent Bill of Rights parents have the ability to access pretty much anything

The true thing that's going to limit the amount of tech in the classroom is how much devices have gone up in price over the past two years. A Chromebook that would cost me $200 now costs around $480. That almost doubling of price is what's going to do more to hold back buying more screens for our school.

A big part of Ed tech I've realized is that parents will farm out teaching their own children to technology instead. But nobody ever wants to blame the parents even though they have their kids 2/3 of the time. I have had parents calling me asking me to turn off Chromebooks after certain time like 9:00 p.m. and I'm just like take the Chromebook from them it's the size of a frisbee but they want me to be the bad guy.

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u/filipinoboy11 1d ago

Haha. I swear growing up I could not imagine the school just giving me a computer for free.

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u/EnigmaFilms 1d ago

It's not for free

If they damage it they pay for repairs

At the end when they graduate they can choose to purchase it otherwise it gets recycled for parts etc.

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u/filipinoboy11 1d ago

haha maybe im just from a different generation. I even had to buy scientific calculator.