The countdown to the Morton Pumpkin Festival is on, and the smell of rotting pumpkins is filling the air! Helen gives an update about her classes, including how she and her students are navigating her mostly-device-free technology policy. She talks through the examples of when classwork does allow for the use of devices and how she is using the tech intentionally with her students. Jordan shares about a recent local radio segment, “What to know about Illinois’ cell phone ban in schools,” from Illinois Public Media. In addition to discussing the new personal device law, there was talk from a professor about problems with edtech products entering K-12 schools. This leads to a discussion of the hoops educators often have to jump through in order to become professionally licensed while keeping up with the many requirements. Jordan shares the difficulties of transferring her own license from Indiana to Illinois--including the absurd requirement to sit for the SAT exam in her thirties! Then we talk through the fascinating and complex world of introducing bills to lawmakers. Jordan gives information for the upcoming listening session on September 15th being held by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) calling for parents, students, educators, and child development specialists to share their concerns about screens in schools. Helen closes with a story about how her bracelet-making fundraiser was included in the local newspaper with some possibly false details.

Find Helen on Substack at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Resonances⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Join Jordan in⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠reConnect Morton⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ through Four Norms.