One librarian stated "it's the way we get the kids"! She stated she believes that this is a doorway for many children to want to read more. She also believes that children are reading even though they are visually occupied with images and thinks that they may be creating their own stories while playing the games. She is really excited about the possibilities for exploring the future of reading and participation in the library system.
Another librarian interviewed sees things differently. She believes that children are being "programmed for" and that technology has become the babysitter for parents. She thinks that children are becoming disoriented with technology and recalled seeing a child swiping at a magazine cover as if she was using a tablet. She said that screen time for children under 3 should be an absolute "no" but understands that children 5 and older need to begin learning how to use technology and electronics as this is part of school beginning in Kindergarten.
As a parent educator, I am frequently asked about the use of tablets and media devices with babies and children. I have recently begun referring parents to http://www.pricelessparenting.com/digital-children in order to try to assess for themselves what they think about this and come back to the next class to discuss with the other parents. The website has a lot of resources and information for parents of children at different ages and stages. I'd also suggest Kathy Slattengren's You Tube video, Warning Signs of Too Much Screen Time https://youtu.be/6UrgQCADBwk for a quick look at how you parents can think about "is there too much screen time" in my child's life. Like most things, there is a balance that has to be considered. I encourage parents to think about the game of tennis in terms of language development and learning. Tennis is a game of seve and return. In terms of helping children to learn, when parents are a part of the learning and involved with them there is "serve and return". In terms of learning, I always encouraged my children to read what they were most intersted in and then we would talk about it. With one son, he loved cook books. I thought he was learning a lot about problem solving as well as math in his reading. Another son only wanted to read cartoons. Today he is an avid animee watcher. My youngest son can read fluently but can't tell you anything about what he read because he has some real cognitive limitations. So he and I co-create stories based on what he thinks. In the end, I am a part of their learning and we have all been
better off in looking at the different ways that we've been given to experience literature and learn, even if it's through reading Star Wars cartoons and not reading my favorite classics! LOL
It's interesting the different perspectives the librarians had when it comes to technology. I used to have the perspective of the librarian that believes that the kids are being programmed. I think differently now. I think we need to reach the young people where they are, but also encourage the written word as well. Like everything in life, we need balance. It is truly amazing what we are able to do in the digital world. Our central library in the city has just opened a digital lab for the youth. They can create their own music, videos, posters, drawings, etc. The other day I saw a young person working on a comic book her and some other friends are creating in hopes to have it published. We need to understand if we create an environment for young people to cultivate their gifts, learning will take place.
ReplyDeleteDiane,
ReplyDeleteDiffering perspectives are so valuable to me. Particularly in terms of trying to better understand where I am at in my thinking and critical perspective. In the last few years I have grown into technology so much and it has really changed the way I do my work as a parent educator and has provided me with so much more of a wider perspective that I can't imagine how I did my work before. But when I think of the Librarian that had concerns about technology and "using it as a babysitter" (replacement for the real human component) I had to remember me and my thinking before I joined Web 2.0! LOL I'd have to say that the turning point for me was my smart phone. Once I had access to information so readily it changed the way I thought about media and technology. What do you think about Rich Motoko's reference to Michael Kamil saying students "are going to have to be highly competent on the internet and there's no reason to make them discover how to be highly competent if we can teach them"? I thought that he was making a good point. I understand wholeheartedly the NEA and National Council for Teachers concerns about yet another test and testing guidelines however it seems that we have to begin teaching kids some basic skills in using the multi media that they will have to (and do now) interact with in terms of gaining knowledge and finding credible resources.