Moultrie News – Charleston Teacher Alliance
“Recently I visited two Charleston County schools where the district is experimenting with “personalized learning.” In this method, students use technology to complete digital activities at their own pace until they master the desired concepts. Proponents of the technique proclaim its effectiveness, but the process is fraught with risks. One of the most concerning for many educators is that it demands heavy use of “screen time” – the continual use of iPads or similar devices. In its commitment to personalized learning, CCSD has spent millions of dollars on 1:1 implementation (one iPad for every student) and plans to spend millions more…A growing body of research suggests an increase in 1:1 screen interactivity may have long-term consequences…Diving headstrong into the murky waters of technology saturation has the potential to cripple our budget, imperil the education of an entire generation and negatively alter the development of the very minds we seek to improve. We should proceed with extreme caution.”(more)