My feelings exactly--CREATIVITY is what I explained in my PD session with elementary teachers, and while I am in classrooms deploying iPads, I also repeat that these are devices to be used to create and to inspire creativity.
Todd, weren't we having this conversation when I told you I would be meeting with ES parents about ipad and balance (technology) and safety in the home?
we immediately had a website created as a place for all of them to go. This was great, but it was just a start. They also needed a way to communicate and share their concerns. We began to host some “town-hall” style forums as a way to open up the lines of communication.
I think it is great to have a website, town-hall style meetings, etc. but I think bringing in the parents when the kids begin their formal BYOD program in early August prior to the kickoff of school is the way to go...Parent AND student orientation. This is when we have the conversations and practice balance, managing time, what is real learning with devices versus games and then of course, safety so parents are reinforcing what we ought to be teaching (and by we I mean ALL teachers) to kids about use of personal devices.