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Hanover presenters say technology supports instruction, pledge to curb passive screen time
Summary
Hanover County instructional staff told the school board that in-class technology is designed to enhance instruction — not replace it — and reported an average student login of about 15 minutes; the board made refining technology use a priority to reduce passive screen time.
Hanover County instructional technology staff presented a multipart report to the Hanover County School Board on June 2, arguing that division devices are used in short, targeted bursts designed to support specific instructional goals. "The data shows that technology is accessed in short bursts by our students throughout the day," said the presentation lead, Ms. Greif, providing the board an average login time of about 15 minutes.
Presenters described a three-layer approach to student safety and instructional quality: a division-wide web filter that blocks social media, an approval portal for instructional tools, and classroom-level monitoring software (Securly) that lets teachers view and redirect student activity. "When screens are used in instruction, they're supervised, guided by trained professionals, and grounded in our classroom curriculum to create that positive learning environment," Heather Causey said, describing the division's digital citizenship curriculum and parent outreach.
Board members pressed for more nuance in the usage data and asked for grade-band breakdowns, particularly for K–2 and middle school transitions. Staff said Analytics Plus currently provides averaged metrics and that a more detailed Analytics Plus rollout this fall will show time-of-day and site-specific usage; staff also pledged to supplement automated data with administrator walkthroughs and instructional technology coaches. Following discussion, the board gave a consensus direction to make technology use — and the reduction of passive screen time — a school board priority for further study and implementation.
