The amount of time that children 8 - 18 years old spend using media is disturbing, but it doesn't surprise me one bit, because I am 29 and I use it just as much if not more. When i really think about it, there may be days where I am completely immersed in media from the time I wake up in the morning until the time I go to sleep. I wake up to the radio, then I work out with the television on. I shower with music usually playing. I then jump on the computer to work. When I have to go somewhere, I have my cellphone with me as well as my iPod that has music and video on it. Most places I end up in have televisions or radios going. When I go to class, we are usually taught using projectors and I have my computer with me for taking notes. Wow, this is crazy now that I really think about. I feel kind of gross now, like I need to take a shower or something or go run into the woods screaming.
It's interesting looking at the statistics of television and computer use. I think that as time goes on, that the trend will change to more computer use, but on a mobile platform. The iPad is testament to this. Once everyone starts embracing the personal traveling media companion that these types of devices are, then people will be everywhere messing around on the internet, texting/emailing, watching movies, reading, etc. The idea is that all this technology will get wrapped into one extremely convenient device that all of use will have. Well all of us who fall for the mainstream media gadgetry. I have to admit that I was the last one of all the people I knew besides my parents that got a cell phone, but I eventually did. Ever since then, it's been down hill.
As far as teaching goes in regards to this media boom. It's obvious that to keep these kids of the future engages, that I will have to incorporate different types of technology into the classroom. Whether it's power point presentation, having the students use computers/internet for projects and research, or utilizing films, the students may otherwise wander off unless engaged by some technological media. The media will be something that the kids will identify with more than chalk on a chalk board or normal human conversation with what these trends are saying. So if this is what I will have to do to get through to the majority of these kids, then so be it.
Nice picture. I hope that wasn't you as a young pup. Your description sounds like teachers are being confronted with a new kind of special needs student that can only hear new learning content if it is done up in electronic form, at 30 frames per second or 120 beats per minute or whatever. And this happens to be the majority of students now, so special education has become general education, or vice versa. A persistent question (for me at least) is -- is reflection, observation (without media), insight, etc. possible in such a mediated world? Or possible how? And how important are those un-mediated skills?
ReplyDeletejd
You hit the nail on the head! As an adult I'm interacting with technology every single day and to an extent that I'm a little ashamed to admit. However, I'm a mature adult with a pretty solid understanding of whom and what I am as an individual. Our still forming children lack this type of solid foundation. They require careful guidance and monitoring in terms of using technology.
ReplyDeleteI know of a child who recently celebrated her 7th birthday and received her own cell phone. Perhaps the purpose of the phone was to aid her comfort level with technology. If this is true, I wonder if that goal could have been accomplished in a less drastic way? I know adults who are not ready for the responsibility of a cell phone, much less a 7 year old.
In terms of education, perhaps we should fully vet non-technical means to get our lessons across to students so as not to saddle them with too much technology too soon?