Digital Smarts Blog

Microsoft has decided to put out free mobile editions of Office products, including Word, Excel and PowerPoint. The free software for iPads, iPhones and Android tablets will have most of the essential functions of the computer versions of the products. By making a free mobile version available, Microsoft is aiming to broaden the reach of the software. Check the Apple App store for the iPhone and iPad updates. The apps for Android tablets are expected in early 2015.

Microsoft has decided to put out free mobile editions of Office products, including Word, Excel and PowerPoint. The free software for iPads, iPhones and Android tablets will have most of the essential functions of the computer versions of the products. By making a free mobile version available, Microsoft is aiming to broaden the reach of the software. Check the Apple App store for the iPhone and iPad updates. The apps for Android tablets are expected in early 2015.

Facebook's newest tool, known as Safety Check, aims to allow people to quickly alert friends and family that they are safe after a natural disaster. For instance, if an earthquake is detected in the area Facebook predicts a user is located, Safety Check sends a notification asking whether the user is OK. After responding, a user can check off friends he or she knows to be safe. Facebook says, "we hope it's a tool that helps you stay connected to those you care about, and gives you the comfort of knowing your loved ones are safe." Check out how it works before you need to use it in an emergency situation.

Facebook's newest tool, known as Safety Check, aims to allow people to quickly alert friends and family that they are safe after a natural disaster. For instance, if an earthquake is detected in the area Facebook predicts a user is located, Safety Check sends a notification asking whether the user is OK. After responding, a user can check off friends he or she knows to be safe. Facebook says, "we hope it's a tool that helps you stay connected to those you care about, and gives you the comfort of knowing your loved ones are safe." Check out how it works before you need to use it in an emergency situation.

As technology continues to evolve, a number of mobile applications have been created that are designed to help students with their homework. However, in some cases the apps are doing much of the work – sometimes even all of the work -- for students, leading some to question whether the high-tech helpers equate to cheating. One new app can even solve math equations with the snap of a camera. While the software has inspired teachers to create real-world homework problems that can’t be automatically solved, that strategy doesn’t hold up to other apps that tap into real-life brains for solutions. The next question will be how schools expect parents to guide the use of these apps.

As technology continues to evolve, a number of mobile applications have been created that are designed to help students with their homework. However, in some cases the apps are doing much of the work – sometimes even all of the work -- for students, leading some to question whether the high-tech helpers equate to cheating. One new app can even solve math equations with the snap of a camera. While the software has inspired teachers to create real-world homework problems that can’t be automatically solved, that strategy doesn’t hold up to other apps that tap into real-life brains for solutions. The next question will be how schools expect parents to guide the use of these apps.

Towson University in Maryland has launched a course called “Alone Together: Finding Intimacy in the Age of Facebook,” in which students are asked to examine how social media has affected their lives -- in both positive and negative ways. In the course, students explore how the need to be connected has affected them socially. Discussions include how the drive to get "likes" on social media has impacted their ability to communicate, and how it has even made students reluctant to disagree with others and avoid confrontation. The class has revealed that some students in the course are so hyperconnected that they sleep with their phones and even “fake text” when alone in public to appear as though they are connecting with others.

Towson University in Maryland has launched a course called “Alone Together: Finding Intimacy in the Age of Facebook,” in which students are asked to examine how social media has affected their lives -- in both positive and negative ways. In the course, students explore how the need to be connected has affected them socially. Discussions include how the drive to get "likes" on social media has impacted their ability to communicate, and how it has even made students reluctant to disagree with others and avoid confrontation. The class has revealed that some students in the course are so hyperconnected that they sleep with their phones and even “fake text” when alone in public to appear as though they are connecting with others.

New York City schools are following the lead of other large, urban districts, such as Los Angeles and Chicago, and ending the ban on cellphones in school. The district's current policy, considered one of the strictest in the country, forbids students from having cellphones at school even if they are turned off. Officials now say a revised policy will recognize cellphones as tools for education and safety. In an era where students are in constant connection with each other and parents want to be able to reach their children when they need to, banning cellphones from schools is increasingly seen as counterproductive. Teachers are experimenting with technology and finding that the “smart” devices many students carry in their pockets can be valuable classroom tools. Allowing phones to be brought into the school building has its advantages, but it is important for rules to be in place to prevent distractions, cheating, and cyberbullying.

New York City schools are following the lead of other large, urban districts, such as Los Angeles and Chicago, and ending the ban on cellphones in school. The district's current policy, considered one of the strictest in the country, forbids students from having cellphones at school even if they are turned off. Officials now say a revised policy will recognize cellphones as tools for education and safety. In an era where students are in constant connection with each other and parents want to be able to reach their children when they need to, banning cellphones from schools is increasingly seen as counterproductive. Teachers are experimenting with technology and finding that the “smart” devices many students carry in their pockets can be valuable classroom tools. Allowing phones to be brought into the school building has its advantages, but it is important for rules to be in place to prevent distractions, cheating, and cyberbullying.

If your holiday shopping list includes video games for children or teens, an excellent article you might want to read first is 10 Most Violent Video Games of 2014 (and What to Play Instead). The great thing about this article is that it lists similar but less violent alternatives from the same genre, so you have other options for your kids.

If your holiday shopping list includes video games for children or teens, an excellent article you might want to read first is 10 Most Violent Video Games of 2014 (and What to Play Instead). The great thing about this article is that it lists similar but less violent alternatives from the same genre, so you have other options for your kids.

Vicki Davis, a blogger for Edutopia, lays out the "9 Key Ps" of digital citizenship in her post for teachers, but the list applies to parents concerned about the issue as well. The “Ps” cover everything from protecting personal information to copyrighted property. She emphasizes the importance of letting students experience situations that allow them to apply their knowledge of digital citizenship, and provides some examples of experiential learning to help teach important skills.

Vicki Davis, a blogger for Edutopia, lays out the "9 Key Ps" of digital citizenship in her post for teachers, but the list applies to parents concerned about the issue as well. The “Ps” cover everything from protecting personal information to copyrighted property. She emphasizes the importance of letting students experience situations that allow them to apply their knowledge of digital citizenship, and provides some examples of experiential learning to help teach important skills.

Undoubtedly your child’s school has an acceptable use policy that lays out the dos and don’ts of technology use at school. While having such a policy in place is important, Andrew Marcinek points out in his blog post Digital Citizenship: Developing a Culture of Trust and Transparency that schools may want to change the semantics of such a document to reflect the positive use of technology rather than the negative. He believes these documents should guide students to the responsible use of digital devices rather than just be a complicated list of things kids shouldn’t do. His blog post includes an example of an Empowered Digital Use Policy and reminds us that these guidelines should be something that all students can understand and interpret. The content of these documents should be simple and direct without creating an air of fear when “signing on the dotted line.”

Undoubtedly your child’s school has an acceptable use policy that lays out the dos and don’ts of technology use at school. While having such a policy in place is important, Andrew Marcinek points out in his blog post Digital Citizenship: Developing a Culture of Trust and Transparency that schools may want to change the semantics of such a document to reflect the positive use of technology rather than the negative. He believes these documents should guide students to the responsible use of digital devices rather than just be a complicated list of things kids shouldn’t do. His blog post includes an example of an Empowered Digital Use Policy and reminds us that these guidelines should be something that all students can understand and interpret. The content of these documents should be simple and direct without creating an air of fear when “signing on the dotted line.”

An excellent article, “Parents are the ones who need limits on screen time”, looks at the way technology interferes with the relationships between parents and children. Catherine Steiner-Adair, psychologist and the author of “The Big Disconnect: Protecting Childhood and Family Relationships in the Digital Age”, says kids are weary these days from trying to get the attention of their parents. She suggests that parents resist the urge to compulsively check devices and remember that there are certain times of the day and certain situations where parents need to be fully and openly available to their kids.

An excellent article, “Parents are the ones who need limits on screen time”, looks at the way technology interferes with the relationships between parents and children. Catherine Steiner-Adair, psychologist and the author of “The Big Disconnect: Protecting Childhood and Family Relationships in the Digital Age”, says kids are weary these days from trying to get the attention of their parents. She suggests that parents resist the urge to compulsively check devices and remember that there are certain times of the day and certain situations where parents need to be fully and openly available to their kids.

The U.S. Department of Education has sent a reminder to schools of their responsibility to address and prevent disability discrimination. The letter was sent in response to an increased number of complaints received concerning bullying, especially of special needs students. In addition to its guidance for educators, the Department of Education also issued a fact sheet for parents clarifying what they can expect of schools.

The U.S. Department of Education has sent a reminder to schools of their responsibility to address and prevent disability discrimination. The letter was sent in response to an increased number of complaints received concerning bullying, especially of special needs students. In addition to its guidance for educators, the Department of Education also issued a fact sheet for parents clarifying what they can expect of schools.