The school is a 1:1 school in terms of technology. Every student receives a Chromebook laptop upon entering their first year, which they keep with them throughout their time at the school. In addition, the school’s technology policy does not prohibit the use of cellphones in class. Instead, cell phones can be used as a tool to help students find materials on the internet. When interviewing a student, we heard that students enjoy this policy because sometimes the Wi-Fi can have connection issues, and students phones are usually more reliable. On the other hand, when interviewing the parent of a student, we found that she feels the policy needs to be stricter. She expressed concern that her son was using his phone to text and look up sports scores during school. Although the policy states that when being used as a distraction, phones will be taken away, this parent makes a good point that there is no way for teachers to monitor every student's phone all of the time. It reflects the culture of trust that exists within the school, as well as some of its limits.
Though the general consensus is that Science Leadership Academy is a great place for learning, there are some concerns that parents, students, and staff share. Technology is a really important tool used for learning in SLA, which allows students to better engage with the various technological advancements that society has to offer. By sophomore year, each student is given a laptop for their personal and academic use. But some teachers and parents express concern over constant computer and smartphone use in class, as they see it as a distraction for many students. But one teacher explains that in a way, “the loose technology policy allows students to be accountable for their behavior and educational experience. If you want to spend class playing games and texting, then you’re missing out on a lot of valuable learning time. And you have to deal with those repercussions.”
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