Blake Tests New Tech Measures

New software for 6th grade allows parents to regulate student devices.

This month, the school announced that it would conduct a tech pilot for 6th graders. A pilot is an experiment with a smaller group of people to test if something works before making it widespread. The pilot will be continued for the remainder of the year.

The measures will include implementing a new software, Securly, which will allow parents and teachers to regulate devices.

During the pilot, 6th-grade teachers will also look at their curriculum, seeing where tech enhances learning and where it detracts from it. They will then try to minimize tech, specifically in homework, in ways that detract from learning.

Ms. Robin Ferguson, the middle school director, and a leader in this tech pilot, explains that, “For quite a few years now, we have had families that reach out every year… [who are] asking for a stronger partnership with us where they want to have some type of filtering at home where they can put some controls in place.”

Mr. David Boxer, Blake’s Chief Information Officer, explains further, “Technology can serve as a really great way to open up the possibilities of learning, but also can serve as an easy distractor.” Mr. Boxer and Ms. Ferguson say that when teachers can see what is on students are doing on their laptops, “it allows them to really help students hyper focus,” Mr. Boxer says.

In the past, Blake had a similar software, called LanSchool, which allowed teachers full visibility of what students were doing on their laptops. Blake stopped using LanSchool during COVID-19. Ms. Ferguson notes that since then, students have become more distracted by games and other things on their devices. Ms. Ferguson, who used to teach humanities at Blake, says, “For someone like me who had this tool as a classroom teacher and then the tool went away, a lot of our teaching team as well [is] really excited to have Securly.”

Mr. Boxer also emphasizes the importance of sleep and how this tool will allow parents to set schedules for when students can use their laptops.

Throughout the pilot, Blake will get feedback from students, teachers, and parents. If it goes well, Ms. Ferguson would love to extend these measures to other grades as well.

Mr. Boxer says that, “during any change, the natural human response, regardless of your age, is to be like, ooh, this is different. For many folks … it's uncomfortable. … I

would encourage us in the community… to be really flexible.

“At the end of the day, what matters most is that caring adults in this community are trying to step [students] up to be even more successful.”