David Martelli

Educator, speaker, and entrepreneur. Founder: Guild Hall Learning and President of Global Educational Advancement (GEA)

[David Martelli @TheDaveMartelli]

A bit of a trick to this is to not give them access to YouTube or tutorials. Instead just give them the tool and require them to play with it for a bit. The frustration is someone purposeful in this,

Generally just having a kid a tablet in an app and saying go for it won't work and does require some active engagement from the parent or teacher. But itBut it could be a simple prompt such as Roblox, try and make the first level of a house, here's Libra game designer, can you make the first level of Mario.

Let them mess with it enough that they have to learn the tool themselves up to a failure point.

It's an actual interesting note that I very rarely would advise a lesson or tutorial before touching a tool with the exception of shop tools for obvious reasons. But digital tools the more you throw at a kid, the more they get an intuitive grasp for how programs are designed and developed, which also gives them the chance to mess up a bunch and work through it.

[David Martelli @TheDaveMartelli]

At home, make screen time meaningful! Encourage kids to use devices for making stories, coding, or exploring new hobbies. Balance with offline play. It's about *what* they do! #FamilyTech #DigitalBalance

[David Martelli @TheDaveMartelli]

Teachers, boost home connections with a weekly "Weekend Preview" message via your school app. Include: "Next week we learn [topic], don't forget [event], ask about [skill]!" It's a quick, helpful update.

[David Martelli @TheDaveMartelli]

Teachers, bridge the gap! Once a week, use your school app to share one photo of a student's work or a short video of them learning. Parents love seeing progress and feel more connected.

[David Martelli @TheDaveMartelli]

Make virtual parent-teacher meetings count! Before your video call, ask parents to share 3 things: 1) A recent win for their child, 2) A current struggle, 3) Their top question. This helps you both focus.

[David Martelli @TheDaveMartelli]

When your child uses a learning app, sit with them sometimes and ask: 'Why did that work?' or 'What happens if we try...?' Sharing the experience turns screen time into shared discovery and deeper learning. #FamilyLearning

[David Martelli @TheDaveMartelli]

Do this: Use your phone's 'Screen Time' (or Android's Digital Wellbeing) settings to set daily limits for learning apps. For instance, 30 mins for a reading app, 20 mins for a science game. Helps keep things balanced! #DigitalBalance

[David Martelli @TheDaveMartelli]

Checklist for learning apps: Does it give feedback? Does it track progress? Good apps don't just entertain; they show kids how they're improving. Look for progress reports or skill dashboards. #EdTech

[David Martelli @TheDaveMartelli]

Try this: When choosing a learning app, make sure it lets your child *create* or *solve*, not just scroll. Apps like coding games or virtual science labs keep brains active and make learning stick. Look for interaction!

[David Martelli @TheDaveMartelli]

Ditch passive listening! During a lesson, use a quick online poll (like a simple Google Form) to ask students' opinions or ideas. This gets *everyone* thinking and participating, not just the usual few hands.

[David Martelli @TheDaveMartelli]

After trying a new game or recipe, ask your child: 'What did we learn that didn't work? How can we try it differently next time?' This is how AI learns and gets smarter over time.

[David Martelli @TheDaveMartelli]

Next time you use a smart app or speaker, ask your child: 'What job do you think this computer program is trying to do for us?' Helps them see AI has a specific goal, not just magic.

[David Martelli @TheDaveMartelli]

Play a 'Predict the Pattern' game. Start a series (e.g., A, B, A, B, ?) and ask your child what comes next. Explain this is how AI 'guesses' outcomes based on what it's seen before.

[David Martelli @TheDaveMartelli]

Try 'Robot Says.' Give your child *exact* steps for a simple task, like 'Stand up.' They must follow precisely. Discuss how AI needs clear steps to 'think' and make decisions.

[David Martelli @TheDaveMartelli]

Play 'What's the Rule?' with your child. Give them items (e.g., all red toys). Ask: 'What rule would an AI use to sort these?' Teaches how AI finds patterns in data to 'think.'

[David Martelli @TheDaveMartelli]

Shop quote of the day: Never trust a leaky orifice

[David Martelli @TheDaveMartelli]

Ask your child: "When you use an app, does it ever ask to know where you are or who your friends are?" This helps them spot info requests. The new law makes companies safer with this data.

[David Martelli @TheDaveMartelli]

Before your child downloads a new app, do this 3-step check: 1) Read its privacy policy (the easy parts). 2) Check its age rating. 3) Set its privacy settings immediately. This keeps them safer!

[David Martelli @TheDaveMartelli]

Teach kids to ask: "What info does this app want, and why?" The new law helps, but talking about data privacy empowers them. Before a new game, ask: "What does it need to know about you?"

[David Martelli @TheDaveMartelli]

Make device settings work for you. On your child's phone/tablet (iPhone: "Screen Time," Android: "Digital Wellbeing"), set daily time limits for apps. Block scary content. These tools are key for safety.

[David Martelli @TheDaveMartelli]

Get proactive with app privacy. Open apps your child uses. Look for "Privacy" or "Settings." Check what info the app can access (like location, photos). Turn off what's not needed. Do this monthly!