At Brick's Back-To-School Nights, Here's 5 Tech Questions to Ask

Now that classes are fully underway, it’s time to think about Back-to-School night.

In Brick, the elementary school Back-to-School nights are on the folllowing dates: Lanes Mill, Monday, Sept. 15, at 6 for grades 1-2, 7:15 for 3-5; Herbertsville, Tuesday, Sept. 16, 6:30 p.m. all grades; Veterans Elementary, Wednesday, Sept. 17, 6 p.m. all grades; Osbornville, Monday, Sept. 22, 6 p.m. for grades 1-2, 7:15 for 3-5; Emma Havens Young, Tuesday, Sept. 23, 6 p.m. for grades 1-2, 7:15 for 3-5; Drum Point, Monday, Sept. 29, 6 p.m. for grades 1-2, 7 p.m. for 3-5; and Midstreams, Thursday, Sept. 30, 6:30 p.m. all grades. Brick Memorial’s Back-to-School night is Monday, Sept. 22 starting at 7 p.m. Brick Township High School held its night on Tuesday night, and Warren H. Wolf Elementary held its Back-to-School night in conjunction with kindergarten orientation. Lake Riviera and Veterans Memorial middle schools were Sept. 10

With the rapid spread of technology and the Common Core requirement for technology to be integrated into schooling, there’s many more considerations and questions to ask beyond just the material your child will be learning.

Caroline Knorr of Common Sense Media put together a list of questions to ask your children’s teachers at Back-to-School Night about the technology. Some of the questions she poses most likely will be answered in the opening presentation by the school administration, particularly when it comes to cyberbullying and the policies on teacher-student interaction through email and social media.

Here are five questions to ask, based on Knorr’s list:

Which websites or apps do you use the most in the classroom? How often?
Many parents are familiar with Study Island, but some teachers have others they use or believe will be helpful. In addition, especially in the older grades, teachers are moving to programs like Google Docs and expecting students to use the program to submit homework electronically. Be sure to find out what the teacher is using in the classroom on a regular basis to familiarize yourself with it.

Which apps should we get and which sites should we bookmark for homework help?

Teachers want parents to pick apps and sites that reinforce the methods they’re using in the classroom. Being aware of what your kids are using also can help you support their learning, troubleshoot issues, and manage their screen time at home.

How much homework will require a computer or an Internet connection?
Knowing how much your kids will need to go online will help you prepare for the nightly routine, as well as coordinate schedules. It also will help you keep your kids on track once they go online.

What provisions are made for families who do not have a computer or other device at home? What provisions are there if the home computer stops working?

The number of families without some sort of internet device at home is dwindling, but there are still those who do not have them. And we’ve all had those times where the computer crashes right in the middle of a crucial project. Those questions should be asked before there’s a problem. If you’re considering buying a laptop or other device, look into discount programs such as Notebooks for Students.

What are the rules about when kids can and can’t use devices? How are these rules communicated to students?
Most teachers will address these up front, but if they don’t, be sure to ask -- and then be sure to discuss them with your kids so they know the rules and the consequences for violating those rules. It may not prevent them from breaking the rules, but it’s a lot easier as a parent to say, “you’ve been told” when you have been the one to tell them the rules.

More of Knorr’s suggested questions can be found here.

(Image via Shutterstock)