Yesterday's class really made me think about the pros and cons of using technology in the classroom. There are two extremes: the good side like the class using Skype to connect with the girl at home, and the bad side like the devastation caused for the Star Wars kid. Like anything in life, the key to using technology for good is to teach kids responsibility at an early age. If they learn how to be responsible users and think critically about the things presented on the Internet, I think that will lessen the potential for problems considerably. Parents and teachers need to warn children about the dark side of the Internet so that they are aware of it and know how to avoid it. More importantly, though, the positive side should be emphasized and good websites and applications presented so that children concentrate on those things. I think that to bar children from using the Internet in an effort to "protect their innocence" would only lead to irresponsible behaviour when they are given the opportunity to use it, because this will inevitably happen with the myriad places it is available.
I compare this to the drinking of alcohol in Europe and North America. This may sound strange, but stick with me here. In Europe children are exposed to alcohol at an early age, and grow up drinking with their families. They are taught to drink responsibly, and they drink to ENJOY it. There are virtually no problems with alcoholism in Europe. On the other hand, in North America people are not allowed to drink until they are older, but teenagers do it anyways. In general, their drinking practices are not responsible; they drink to get sloshed, not because they enjoy the taste of it. Alcoholism is a common problem. The suppression of alcohol use and the fact that children are not taught to use it responsibly has led to these problems. In the same way, barring children from the Internet will not help them. By teaching them how to use it responsibly, they will be more likely to use it that way. They will focus on the positive, productive side of the Internet and know to avoid those things that could lead to detrimental consequences.
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2 comments:
This is an interesting point you've brought up Vanessa. I must agree that I felt pretty much the same after last days class...there are so many "bad" things that the internet can be used for, that many people wonder why we expose our children to it.
I think you've got a good point that if we "protect their innocence" we are only doing them harm in the end. I believe that kids should be exposed to it...all the "evils" the internet has to offer, so they can be prepared for it, and can distinguish right from wrong, and real from fake ... and so much more. I think it is our responsibility as educators to make sure that kids are aware of these, and ensure that they know they can't trust everything on the internet.
And I think it is important to make them aware of the sexual aggression they'll find on the internet, and to tell them that this stuff is NOT normal...
I don't really know, what needs to be done to make some changes but I think we need to do something besides block kids from it...after all people in general tend to do something just because they were told not to!!
Good post.
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