 |
| photo credit |
Everything I have heard and believed about kids and tech can be summed up as limit, limit, limit.
Screen time had become enemy number one. Unfortunately, this well intended reaction leaves our students
in the dark. Without the knowledge, skills,
and meaningful application of technology, we are in fact stifling our students’
growth and ability to become responsible global citizens. Taking a step back,
I can see the benefits and the necessity of positive adult guidance as students
grow up in a media saturated world. Why
would we allow our children to navigate what they view as one of the most important parts of
their world alone? We cannot control
their interactions, nor should we; but we can support their growth by providing
meaningful instruction on positive interactions, real time collaboration, and
contributing to our global community.
In
this digital age, there is no keeping students for the internet, they were born
with it. They are truly the first
generation to discover its power to drive progress in ways I probably will not
understand. I can however get out of the way, and provide the safe space for
them to explore the endless opportunities it will afford them.
If you are like me and starting at ground zero, click here for this free resource, It's Complicated: The Social Lives of Networked Teens, by Danah Boyd. Also check out http://www.thethinkingstick.com for more resources and information on technology in the classroom.
Limit as much as possible is all I've heard as well. I love the resource links you provided, especially to Danah Boyd's book. With a fully digital world in our near future, I wonder if the APA will alter their recommendations for age or amount of screen time. Thanks for sharing your perspective Suzanna!
ReplyDelete