Giving Compass' Take:

• Danielle Arnold-Schwartz, a teacher herself,  argues that technology is not nearly as important as human connection and taking the time to address your students' actual needs. 

• How can education philanthropists contribute to teacher development programs? 

• Read about the secret to activating teacher motivation. 

A kindergarten teacher recently told me that at conference night one of her student’s parents verbally attacked her for using Chromebooks during morning meeting time. This teacher uses Chromebooks responsibly and is a wonderful teacher, but deep down I couldn’t help but cheer as I wondered, “Could it be that parents are waking up to the realization that too much screen time is part of what ails our education system?”

The secret is out: technology alone stinks as a learning model

We sit in front of screens to do work, listen to music, play games and escape from life’s stress. We put children in front of screens at restaurants to keep them quiet, and we do the same in classrooms that may be too large or when teachers are working with small groups. Screens entertain us, help us relax and help us answer the questions we ponder as fast as we can ask them. However, the secret is out: technology alone stinks as a learning model. Education technology is in its infancy, and the appeal to entrepreneurs seems understandably insatiable. The disconnect between business and education is that entrepreneurs focus on profits, while educators focus on children and learning.

Read the full article about balancing technology in schools by Danielle Arnold-Schwartz at EdSurge.