No. 12: Kids' screen time, personal student data, futurist thinking
Understanding your kids' screen time, the collection of personal data on our kids, how to think like a futurist
First, some numbers….
64% - Growth in new apprentices in registered programs since 2012
241,000 - new apprentices entered the national apprenticeship system in 2021
27,000 - registered apprenticeship programs are active in the US 1
How to understand screen time as a teen
When you understand the underlying need to connect online, you’ll learn how to manage your kids’ screen time more effectively. Still unsure? Ana shares her 7 tips halfway through of her video.
This Private Equity Firm is Amassing Companies That Collect Data on America’s Children
Over the past six years, a little-known private equity firm, Vista Equity Partners, has built an educational software empire that wields unseen influence over the educational journeys of tens of millions of children. Along the way, The Markup found, the companies the firm controls have scooped up a massive amount of very personal data on kids, which they use to fuel a suite of predictive analytics products that push the boundaries of technology’s role in education and, in some cases, raise discrimination concerns.
One district we examined uses risk-scoring algorithms from a company in the group, PowerSchool, that incorporate indicators of family wealth to predict a student’s future success—a controversial practice that parents don’t know about—raising troubling questions.
“I did not even realize there was anybody in this space still doing that [using free and reduced lunch status] in a model being used on real kids,” said Ryan Baker, the director of the University of Pennsylvania’s Center for Learning Analytics. “I am surprised and really appalled.”
Continue reading at The Markup
3 Ways to Think Like a Futurist
In researching the traits of futurists and people who can think in multiple generations, I’ve observed 3 ways of thinking that help explain how certain people can seemingly see the future. I want you to consider these 3 ways of thinking as additional tools in your toolbelt. Use them sporadically in your work life and home life. Experiment and iterate with them in order to master them.
Read more at Johnny Nguyen
Till next time…
Your growth as a conscious being is measured by the number of uncomfortable conversations you are willing to have. - Kevin Kelly
All apprenticeship data was resourced from the US Department of Labor
> a little-known private equity firm, Vista Equity Partners
I had to laugh at this. They’re one of the most well known funds in existence.