MONTGOMERY, Ala. – As the deadline to make recommendations to the governor approaches, the Alabama group studying the use of technology in education met in Montgomery Wednesday to refine its suggestions about how and when educators should incorporate technology in the classroom.
Coming to the group from a variety of disciplines within education, members of the Governor’s Commission on Screen-Based Instruction discussed how to ensure instructional technology is used in a way that will benefit students. They offered preliminary suggestions from subgroups, including creating a statewide definition for screen time, improving digital literacy and ensuring professional development opportunities for teachers to learn about technology.
Rep. Jeana Ross, R-Guntersville, who chairs the commission, said that the group is not intending to ban screen time in education or replace teachers but rather to ensure technology is a tool to improve instruction. Ross said the group is basing its recommendations on evidence to best serve Alabama students…