Technology definitely enhances learning. Technology doesn’t ALWAYS enhance learning, but it definitely does enhance it…most of the time…some of the time…wait, no. Technology should be banned in schools. Yes, Let’s go back to the basics… Reading. Writing. Textbooks. But wait…what about students with exceptional abilities? They need technology to support their learning. Yes, schools should definitely have tech available for all students. But…wait again. What about factoring in privilege, accessibility, and perhaps the biggest hinderance to many school districts: funding? OH! and furthermore…what about addiction related to technology? Online bullying? Too much screen time? These conflicting thoughts and aspects of this multi-faceted argument ping-ponged in my mind as I weighed…

Approaching ‘Digital Citizenship’ in my classroom has become as normal as defining classroom expectations at the start of each school year. I have the students give their input for defining classroom expectations both in person and online for the year. They usually come up with the same answers each time we do this, with some guidance or prompting from me. They know the difference between right and wrong (generally) by the time they reach the middle years, they just lose their way sometimes (I blame hormones). Beyond our own personal regulations that students help define, our school division has a “BYOT” policy (bring your own technology) where the students and…