Did You Know?
I have been monitoring the SPS webpage on the selection for two empty Board seats.
However, I persuing the home page and found this from late February of this year:
New Tool for Classrooms at Seattle Public Schools
Okay, what might that be?
For the 2024-25 school year, Seattle Public Schools will be launching a tool to help teachers guide students in their lessons and keep them focused on the task at hand during class time. This system allows teachers to manage student devices and share content quickly and easily.
The new tool will be installed on SPS Devices and will enable our educators build positive learning environment during their classes.
The new tools will enable educators to do the following:
- View of student screens while in-person during class time.
- Help refocus students on classroom instruction, rather than digital distractions.
- Block or allow websites for each class session.
- Digitally interact with students through teacher-to-student messaging.
Important note regarding student privacy: This new tool supports student privacy by automatically deactivating monitoring features outside school hours and off school premises, respecting the balance between educational oversight and personal space.
I appreciate the idea that the teacher is going to be constantly looking at their screen to see who is looking at what but I think in the real world, that this cannot possibly happen. The district already has the ability to block websites at schools.
Teachers and students may use chat and screen sharing during the class period the student is in the teacher’s class. Students will not be able to chat with other students.
I guess I would have to ask - why would a teacher be privately chatting with a student?
Yes, teachers have the ability to control student access to certain websites, including specific YouTube pages. This can be done in coordination with the lesson plan or other class activities.
Yes, teachers will have access to a report that shows student activities
and website usage during their class. This allows them to review and
analyze student engagement and participation.
And then what? Do parents hear from teachers about what their student is looking at in class?
That messaging about student privacy gives me pause because of that phrasing " outside school hours and off school premises," I have to wonder if, until your student leaves school, who is tracking what they look at the rest of the day on school grounds? I have a feeling that is entirely possible.
I also find it odd that there is no name attached to this "tool." Because I'd like to know and then Google it for more information.
I'll ask but I hope parents know about this and have asked the same questions.
Comments
You would be amazed how many SPS students spend their class time playing Roblox or Minecraft. Sure, those sites are blocked, but students are expert at getting around the blocks.
School computers are school property, supplied for educational activities. Students should have no expectation of privacy. Same with any hardware supplied by employers -- good to learn that early. Students who wants privacy can use their phones, which they do, of course.
TS
Our system with the ability to block websites is not as strong as you might think, middle schoolers have been managing to get into Minecraft on the school library computers since well before the pandemic and provision of laptops. (Don't forget, these are digital natives with lots of time on their hands.)
I understand from being in these staff meetings that Lake Washington SD was way out in front of us in adopting such a system - I just googled it and they use this system:
https://www.dyknow.com/who-we-help/dyknow-for-teachers/
Take a look. I think this might be really helpful in getting kids back on track and engender more focus in classroom work.
- long time listener
It's worth noting two things:
1. PowerSchool, the Learning Management System (and $5billion EdTech company) has just announced its new tool, "PowerBuddy", which is an AI chatbot assistant designed to reduce teacher burnout and help students with school work. I recently attended their sales webinar on PowerBuddy. It is being piloted now and will be available for the 24-25 school year. Since SPS is already a PowerSchool customer (most K-12 schools in the US are), PowerSchool says this transition will be seamless. Here is more: https://www.powerschool.com/on-demand-webinar/ai-chat-bots/
2. At the board meeting on Wednesday, the superintendent (or another higher up-- can't recall which) cheered the oncoming "AI for schools" that will make learning easier and support students.
As a former middle school teacher, I have a lot of concerns about AI, especially around the notion that "easier"="better." Learning happens when things are challenging; not when they are easier.
I don't know if these two are connected to this "tool" but it sure seems a likely candidate.