Digital Captives: Helping Schools Strike a Balance Between Humans and Hardware
Public schools play a vital role in the development of an educated citizenry. Unfortunately, the rapid adoption of digital technology in schools has negatively transformed what schooling looks like for millions of students.
The advance of artificial intelligence into every facet of life further threatens students' ability to summarize, follow the thread of complex arguments, read lengthy texts, and write cogently. The headlong transformation of instruction in American schools hasn't paused to check for effectiveness or impact on students.
It's just happened.
Pushed along by the swell of our broader digital immersion, individualized screens have become the central figure in many classrooms across the country, accounting for the majority of many students' day. Schools have become the tools of their tools.
We need to regain a balance between the tools and the users. Developed through research, interviews, and hundreds of classroom observations, Digital Captives guides educators and policymakers in a five-step process of finding a new balance with actionable, incremental components.
Dr. Francisco Rodriguez
Frank Rodriguez has worked in schools for more than three decades. He entered education in 1993 through a two-year commitment to Teach for America, and thirty years later is still finding it difficult to leave. With Dr. Gene Tavernetti, he co-developed the FAST framework, a direct instruction teaching model that synthesized and incorporated pedagogical research by Madeline Hunter and others, and the science of learning. Dr. Rodriguez was a teacher and administrator for twelve years before beginning a career in professional development, where he has since specialized in lesson design, curriculum alignment, and teacher and administrator coaching. Frank received a master’s degree in Bilingual Education from Cal State University Dominguez Hills and a doctorate in Educational Leadership from the University of Southern California. He lives in Southern California with his wife Aida, their three children, two dogs and six chickens. Dr. Donna Smith Donna Smith has over thirty years of experience in educational leadership, serving as a teacher leader, assistant principal, principal, director, assistant superintendent, and educational consultant. She has provided strategic guidance to districts and schools in educational leadership and English language development. Her expertise includes systems development, supporting organizations in designing and implementing coherent structures, processes, and practices that lead to sustainable improvement. Her work centers on strengthening leadership capacity while advancing effective, research-based teaching and learning practices. In 2013, Donna earned her Doctorate in Educational Leadership from the University of Southern California, Rossier School of Education. She is deeply committed to public education as a catalyst for social equity and believes strongly in upholding the dignity of all individuals through high-quality, equitable educational opportunities. Outside of her professional work, Donna values time with her family, enjoying life with her husband, Gary, adult daughters, and beloved dog. Dr. Gene Tavernetti Gene Tavernetti’s journey in education began in 1977, encompassing roles as a coach, teacher, counselor, and administrator. His career reached a turning point when he discovered his passion for one-on-one instructional coaching, realizing the profound impact he could make on educators and student learning. In 2006, Dr. Tavernetti co-founded Total Educational Systems Support (TESS), dedicated to training and coaching thousands of educators. TESS, under Gene’s leadership, focuses on teacher-directed instruction, emphasizing engagement strategies, language development, and higher-order thinking skills. He is the author of two influential books, Teach FAST: Focused Adaptable Structure Instruction and Maximizing the Impact of Coaching Cycles. Gene also hosts the popular podcast BetterTeaching: Only Stuff That Works.