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June 19. 2012 11:30PM
Hooksett schools' electronic device program up in air
HOOKSETT — Students responded favorably to a Bring Your Own Device pilot program, but the program’s future remains up in the air going into tonight’s school board meeting.
Under the program, students in the second, fifth and sixth grades were allowed to bring a personal electronic device – such as a tablet, smartphone or laptop – to class for academic use.
Tonight’s school board meeting is the last regularly scheduled meeting until August. The board has yet to decide if the program should be made permanent.
“For it to proceed in the next school year, a decision has to be made relatively soon,” said school board Chair Dana Argo.
In late May, students, parents and teachers responded positively to a survey about the program, Argo said.
“Based on all the information I’ve received, I would say the pilot program has been a success,” he said. “I’ve heard no negative from students or parents.”
Earlier this month, the board voted to hold a public forum on the pilot program before voting on it. A forum scheduled for June 14 was cancelled, and Argo said whether it is rescheduled “really depends on the will of the board.”
Board member David Pearl said he suggested a public forum because he’s concerned about the program’s structure.
“It was my inclination that the parents really should be informed as to how the pilot worked and how things are going in the schools,” Pearl said. “I have not been a supporter of it thus far.”
Pearl’s said one of his problems is that there is no way to ensure students use their devices for academic purposes, like research, rather than for entertainment.
Additionally, Pearl said the fact that students do not use personalized login information to access the wireless network supported by the devices prohibits the monitoring of usage.
Of the 30 second graders surveyed at Fred C. Underhill School, 29 students said they brought in devices at least once. The 30th student arrived late and did not answer this question. One student said the devices could hurt learning because games could become a distraction.
Ninety-five of 142 fifth graders at Hooksett Memorial School said they used a device, with 25 saying the devices were never distracting and 22 answering that the devices “occasionally,” “often” or “frequently” posed a distraction. Ninety-five of the students skipped the question.
At the David R. Cawley Middle School, 109 of 169 sixth graders said they used a device at school. Twenty-six said the devices were never a distraction, while 30 answered that the electronics were “occasionally,” “often” or “frequently” distracting. The remaining 113 students did not answer the question.
Of the 30 second graders surveyed, 29 said they wanted the program to continue.
At Memorial, 129 of the 142 fifth graders said they’d like to see the program continued or expanded. Most sixth graders – 140 of the 169 at Memorial – answered the same way.
Many students in the fifth and sixth grades also wrote that the devices helped them look up information quickly.
Pearl said that while the survey responses may show the program is popular, they do not indicate whether the program has educational value.
“I had doubts about student surveys because they’re basically asking the students, ‘Do you want us to take away your freedom?’” he said.
klannan@newstote.com
Under the program, students in the second, fifth and sixth grades were allowed to bring a personal electronic device – such as a tablet, smartphone or laptop – to class for academic use.
Tonight’s school board meeting is the last regularly scheduled meeting until August. The board has yet to decide if the program should be made permanent.
“For it to proceed in the next school year, a decision has to be made relatively soon,” said school board Chair Dana Argo.
In late May, students, parents and teachers responded positively to a survey about the program, Argo said.
“Based on all the information I’ve received, I would say the pilot program has been a success,” he said. “I’ve heard no negative from students or parents.”
Earlier this month, the board voted to hold a public forum on the pilot program before voting on it. A forum scheduled for June 14 was cancelled, and Argo said whether it is rescheduled “really depends on the will of the board.”
Board member David Pearl said he suggested a public forum because he’s concerned about the program’s structure.
“It was my inclination that the parents really should be informed as to how the pilot worked and how things are going in the schools,” Pearl said. “I have not been a supporter of it thus far.”
Pearl’s said one of his problems is that there is no way to ensure students use their devices for academic purposes, like research, rather than for entertainment.
Additionally, Pearl said the fact that students do not use personalized login information to access the wireless network supported by the devices prohibits the monitoring of usage.
Of the 30 second graders surveyed at Fred C. Underhill School, 29 students said they brought in devices at least once. The 30th student arrived late and did not answer this question. One student said the devices could hurt learning because games could become a distraction.
Ninety-five of 142 fifth graders at Hooksett Memorial School said they used a device, with 25 saying the devices were never distracting and 22 answering that the devices “occasionally,” “often” or “frequently” posed a distraction. Ninety-five of the students skipped the question.
At the David R. Cawley Middle School, 109 of 169 sixth graders said they used a device at school. Twenty-six said the devices were never a distraction, while 30 answered that the electronics were “occasionally,” “often” or “frequently” distracting. The remaining 113 students did not answer the question.
Of the 30 second graders surveyed, 29 said they wanted the program to continue.
At Memorial, 129 of the 142 fifth graders said they’d like to see the program continued or expanded. Most sixth graders – 140 of the 169 at Memorial – answered the same way.
Many students in the fifth and sixth grades also wrote that the devices helped them look up information quickly.
Pearl said that while the survey responses may show the program is popular, they do not indicate whether the program has educational value.
“I had doubts about student surveys because they’re basically asking the students, ‘Do you want us to take away your freedom?’” he said.
klannan@newstote.com