Adeniji Kayode "I actually feel that parents can take the advantage of kids' affinity for electronics and convert it to something good."
I feel the same way. Technology isn't evil, per se, and what's problematic is using technology as a 24x7 baby-sitter and not engaging the kids in a way that fosters interactive learning. When device use is balanced between educational and leisure time, technology can be an incredibly powerful tool for improving literacy, subject comprehension, and creative problem-solving. It may also level the playing field between the haves and have-not's by expanding access to knowledge to everyone, not just to a select few.
Here are two examples I can draw from my own life that, for me, show the advantages of giving kids technology tools in educational settings.
I've mentioned this on EBN before, I volunteer with a group called Worldreader, which makes e-readers available to children in the developing world where books and other educational materials are severly limited. Currently, we're piloting programs in Ghana and Kenya; because of the widespread acceptance of cell phones in these regions, the kids have quickly latched onto the e-readers. In the few months we've been in Ghana, we've seen kids improve their reading speed by 20%. Here's a video showing that improvement.
This summer, I've also been scheduling Reading Time with a friend's 8-year-old. She's on the West Coast, and I'm in Europe. We download ebooks, and do a video Skype call to read the books together and discuss what's happening. If she wasn't able to get the print book from the local library, she reads on the family's iPad. I read it on my computer (Yes, I've been holding off on buying another device until I see how the e-reader and tablet markets shake out this year). Without digital connectivity to cut the space and time distance, this would be a hard thing to pull off.
So, yeah, I guess it comes down to the responsible use of technology. Parents, teachers and other influencing adults need to show children where some boundaries may be, albeit floating boundaries that move as kids get older. Of course that means that they would have to put down their own iPhones for 5 minutes and actually do that. But, I digress.
I actually feel that parents can take the advantage of kids' affinity for electronics and convert it to something good.
I know a parent that does not allow his kid to watch television until he has done his home works and strictly until they are in holidays when the kid must have come home with desirable grades from school.
What of if it is something for something- I mean parents promise to buy a choice electronic for the kid as a compensation for a good performance in school.
I feel this may be a language the kids understand that after a job well done, reward should follow.
On the other hand, denying them has it own consequences too.
I, on the other hand, would like to think that maybe parents made their kids turn off their cellphones and video games and told them to do their homework or go outside and run around, as children used to do.
Jennifer,
I totally agree with your point. I firmly believe kids should be given limited access to cellphones, video games just to make sure that they don't become digital illiterate. Too much addiction to cellphones and video games kills kids creativity. I believe its the responsibility of the parents to make sure that kids dont get addicted to this technology.
I totally agree with you. We are spoiling our kids by exposing them to too much technology because we don't want them to be "disconned" from their peers. But do we really have a choice. For parents who are willing to buy an iPad to their children, let them read this article about 10 Reasons Not to Buy an iPad for Students.
I, on the other hand, would like to think that maybe parents made their kids turn off their cellphones and video games and told them to do their homework or go outside and run around, as children used to do.
Hope spring eternal, Jennifer. It's very hard to get the kids to turn off the computer games and go outside to bike ride or play ball. Between the lure of TV and that of electronics, it's no wonder that children today are so sedentary and prone to obesity. Interstingly, though, one of my daughters voluntarily abstained from Goodreads for one week. I don't know if the idea was promoted there as a challenge or something else but it worked for that respite. That doesn't mean she gave up the computer altogether; she just went on Discovery Girls instead. She did not opt to play outside, but she may have read a bit more than usual.
New trends like that of electroincs gizmos are integral part of life. This is true for adult as well as kids. More prudent apporach for these new trends will be to embarace them and make most out of it. As parent we encourage our children to be more technology savy. This helps them in many aspects. For example in this summer vacation they watch YouTube but they also learn so many aspects of sports from you tube. I consider YouTube and internet in general to be very effective educational tool and universal encyclopedia. This also true for television programs, video games and other devices. I wish kids good luck in adepting to new technology.
BTW, thought you guys would get a kick out of this infographic about how college students use technology. Again alarming but really shows how it can be put to good use:
I have to agree with your comment that I too was shocked and awed at the numbers. It is great for companies to have numbers like this and to be able to see just where their products are going. On the other hand it is despicable to think that the kids of today have this much technology for no other reason than to entertain themselves. It is creating a sedentary and lazy generation that doesn't know what hard work is or how to entertain themselves without technology. Companies have been marketing kids forever; look at all the television ads for toys and sugary foods. The problem is those were fairly cheap products. Now they're aiming expensive electronics at kids. And since the kid’s friends have them, parents feel they need to give them to their kids too. I'm still shocked that 10 year olds have cell phones and apparently need them.
Thanks for the comments. Like Hawk said, whether its adults or kids, most of us have come to want the same tech devices, but how quickly that desire converts to a sale depends on who controls the purse strings. Even though kids don't whip out their wallets, they have stronger currency: whining persistence that wins over parents and grandparents.
Like the others mentioned, too, the complex chipsets finding their way into what was once very simple devices infant and children's toys is also astounding. We're definitely living in the 21st century, where old-time science fiction movie scenes have become reality.
Barbara - Haven't the American Girl Dolls buried the Cabbage Patch Kids (and geez, aren't we showing our age in that comparison)? My friend's 8-year-old recently filled me in on that phenomenon.
*Shrug* Who would have thought I would be tracking trends popular with the 8-10-year-old set? *Sigh* They will indeed grow into the next young-adult consumer market with disposable income who will demand better, faster, and cheaper technology. Makes sense for the tech industry to start thinking a few years into the future.
EBN Dialogue enables and encourages you to participate in live chats with notable leaders and luminaries. Not only editors and journalists, but the entire EBN community is able to comment and ask questions. Listed below are upcoming and archived chats.
Archived Dialogues
Thailand Stages a Comeback Join EBN contributor Jennifer Baljko on Thursday August 23, 2012, at 11:00 a.m. EST for a live chat on how electronic manufacturers in Thailand have shored up their supply chain to reduce the impact of future natural disasters.
Euro-Crisis: What It Means for High-Tech Firms Join EBN Editor in Chief Bolaji Ojo and Contributing Editor Jennifer Baljko on Thursday, July 12, at 10:00 a.m. EDT for a Live Chat on high-tech and Europe's economic difficulties.
Microsoft Surface: Potential Winners & Losers What are the implications for the electronics industry supply chain of Microsoft Corp.'s decision to launch its own tablet PC? Join industry veteran and EE Times' systems and OEM expert Rick Merritt on Tuesday, July 3, at 12:00 pm EDT for a Live Chat on this subject.
Join EBN contributor Jennifer Baljko on Thursday August 23, 2012, at 11:00 a.m. EST for a live chat on how electronic manufacturers in Thailand have shored up their supply chain to reduce the impact of future natural disasters.
Peter Drucker famously said "Trying to predict the future is like trying to drive down a country road at night with no lights while looking out the back window." Yet in the razor's-edge world of electronics—with a lean supply chain and just-in-time demands—the need to know the future is vital.
While no one really can accurately predict the future, we can take guidance from another Drucker saying which is the best way to predict the future is to create it.
You've heard the saying "the No. 1 supply chain risk is your people." That hasn't always been the case. But today's complex global supply chain requires a new type of multitalented employee. It's one who understands, finance, marketing, economics, is savvy with technology, graceful with relationships and can think analytically.
Where are these people? Are universities properly preparing the next generation supply chain professionals? How do train your existing workforce for these new, demanding positions?
Brian Fuller, editor-in-chief of EBN, will lead a 60-minute Avnet Velocity panel discussion that will ask and answer these and other questions swirling around today's supply-chain talent challenges.
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