With the updated Google for Education App Hub, educators and school admins have, at a glance, 25 apps to update class rosters, grade papers and so much more. My homeroom teacher once told me I’d never amount to much because of how I procrastinated. I replied, “Just you wait.”
New study claims social media harms kids. OK, now what?
A new study from the Surgeon General’s office concludes that social media is harmful to young people’s mental health. It’s presented as a new and urgent conclusion. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy even said in an interview, “We’ve got to move quickly” to respond to this pressing problem.
We agree, but what took him so long? He’s been in the job almost three years and this is as far as he’s gotten?
Well, duh?!
Social media has lots of negative points. That’s well established, in both an everyday sense and empirically. Countless studies have looked at its impact on the mental health of adults and young people. Even on the causal relationship between its use, depression and suicide.
This new study merely confirms that.
We’ve been discussing this for a long time, and we know you have too. Parents and teachers have been on the front lines. They know this stuff is harmful because they see it, and they’ve been fighting the good fight for years.
The Social Media and Youth Mental Health study contains valid suggestions for continuing the fight. It highlights the importance of transparency around social media use.
It also encourages parents to talk to their kids about their routines. It points to positive role-modeling habits parents can show, including limiting their screen time in front of their children.
The study also suggests teaching children about technology and its purpose. It reminds us not to share information online that could be private or embarrassing and to keep profiles locked down and away from public access. Especially those of younger people.
Is anyone going to do something?
The whole report boils down to a series of suggestions. It gives tips for parents, children and tech companies. It even dedicated a page to researchers, claiming that more work is needed to understand the problem better.
But there’s very little in the way of a concrete plan for what anyone with an ounce of power to enact change will do.
What are Amazon mystery boxes? Are they worth the money?
Imagine working without the tools you need to get the job done. Unfortunately, this is a common problem that teachers have to deal with. Some post wish lists full of classroom supplies to Twitter or Facebook with the tag #ClearTheList, hoping a generous netizen will lend a helping hand.
How tech saved lives in Georgia school shooting
A tragic shooting at Apalachee High in Winder, Georgia, left four dead and nine injured. It may have been worse without a new safety system — teachers used a digital panic button to save lives. Plus, Amazon Alexa loses billions, Taylor Swift surveillance, and FB censors opinions.
🚫 Teenage mutant bullies: Kids at Great Valley Middle School in Pennsylvania created fake TikTok accounts to impersonate their teachers, posting lewd pics, racist memes and homophobic statements (paywall link). They were suspended. It’s got to be so hard for a teacher today.
0.6 point increase in grades
For students with last names that start with A, B, C, D or E versus V, W, X, Y or Z. That finding comes from 30 million papers submitted through Canvas, the most popular tech platform for teachers. Canvas gives papers to teachers to grade in alphabetical order. By the end of each assignment, they’re tired — and, apparently, less forgiving.
AI can tell your politics from your face
An AI algorithm called VGGFace2 can accurately guess if you’re conservative or liberal with just a single pic. Smartphones in school? Teachers are pushing back with cell phone bans. Plus, Dawn from Atlanta thinks she’s being cyberstalked, and I help her look for clues.
🎓 Share this AI tool with a teacher: Khan Academy’s AI teaching assistant, Khanmigo, is now free for teachers to whip up quick lesson plans, thanks to a donation from Microsoft. You can bet this is going to make a huge dent on teachers who sell their lesson plans on TeachersPayTeachers.com.
Have a kiddo between the ages of 7 to 12 in the family? Share Google’s Be Internet Awesome, a crash course in internet safety and smarts. There are even slides for teachers or community or church leaders to share.
Clock ticking: TikTok’s future took a huge hit this past week, with the House voting 352-65 to ban the Communist China app. Cue the chaos as small-biz folks, teachers, activists and young people hit the Capitol, waving signs about TikTok’s “crucial” role in our economy and public life (paywall link). The bill still needs to be passed by the Senate.
Cell phone bans in school are growing
Should the tech be allowed in the classroom? Here’s why parents and teachers are split.
Teachers smart changes for cheaters
Some students are using ChatGPT to cheat. In this one-minute podcast, hear what educators are doing to fight back.
Cancer patients' naked photos leaked, TikToker steals widow's ashes, and Florida wants blogger's government registration
Plus, you won’t believe which jobs are on the brink of extinction due to AI – teachers, brace yourselves! Get the latest scoop on the government’s TikTok ban, exploding e-bikes, and the top tax scams spreading like wildfire. Plus, I’ll spill the beans on the ultimate day to send your email newsletter for maximum impact!