What This Story Is About
- Knox County Schools is preparing to limit the use of electronic devices in the classroom for its youngest students.
Why It Matters
- The policy could mean big changes for how students in Knox County learn during the day.
- The Board of Education is planning to meet Monday at 5 p.m. to discuss the policy.
For Context
- The policy is expected to be put into place in part to comply with a state law requiring limitations on electronic instruction for Kindergarten-through-fifth grade students.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) – Monday evening, the Knox County Board of Education will meet to discuss a policy that could keep electronic devices out of young students’ and teachers’ hands throughout the school day, including some educational devices.
The policy isn’t final, and the board has yet to approve it. However, the policy board members will be discussing it publicly, and it lists heavy restrictions for students in Kindergarten through fifth grade. The goal, according to the document, is to emphasize teacher-first teaching.
“When used intentionally, technology can support instruction, expand access to learning resources, personalize support, strengthen communication, and help students develop the digital literacy skills necessary for future success,” the policy reads. “At the same time, the benefit of high-quality, teacher-led instruction cannot be replaced by a device, particularly in an early learning environment.”
What does the Knox County Schools system consider a ‘digital device?’
The policy says a digital device can be any electronic hardware that can process or access data. By that definition, anything from a computer to a smart boards — the computerized blackboards often seen at the heads of classrooms — could be considered a digital device.
What is the school system preparing to ask of teachers?
By and large, the policy up for discussion relies on recommendation over mandate. It says “schools should prioritize in-person, teacher-led instruction and the use of non-electronic instructional materials as the primary mode of instruction” without outright banning the use of electronic teaching aids…