Learning and Leading - September/October 2010

READERSrespond

L&L wants your opinion! Send comments to letters@iste.org.

Participate in our reader poll at www.iste.org.

POLL RESULTS
Yes
27%
Should there be limits on students’ screen time?

Although most agree that digital media have a place in education, the majority of respondents believe limits help students achieve balance.

Look on the Bright Side

Games are powerful tools that teach integration and synthesis of information, social interaction skills, problem solving, and even valuable content.

And we should not force a false dichotomy between reading from paper and from a screen. Many online activities are text and information rich.

Charles Merritt Principal Mountain View, California

Out of Shape

As a PE teacher for 19 years, I have witnessed the negative effects on digital natives. More children are overweight and have difficulty sustaining physical activity during class time or recess. They also have more challenges when playing together. In the digital age, they have significantly less interaction with other people and do not have the skills to work things out.

Brad Brogley Health and Physical Education Teacher Seymour, Wisconsin

Losing Battle

Setting limits on digital media is a losing battle. The Kaiser Foundation reports children ages 8–18 spend an average of

7 hours 38 minutes a day on digital media ( 10. 5 hours taking multitasking into account). We are already reaching the limits of time they have to engage with digital media. Rather than restricting them, our efforts are better spent making their screen time more productive and encouraging other activities.

Randy Kulman President, Learning Works for Kids Wakefield, Rhode Island

Give Them More Screen Time

Limits on screen time should be tailored to the child’s learning needs and type of screen time. Some students seem to develop a thirst for learning through online activities, and some build their own personal learning networks. They may need more time, informed by guidance in digital footprinting, online safety, and netiquette.

Scott Merrick K– 4 Teacher Nashville, Tennessee

Learning by Facebook

My granddaughter has had a tough time with spelling and reading. So we started a Facebook account for her.

She did all the entries herself, set her own permissions, and follows all of the guidelines set forth by her parents. It is wonderful to see how her spelling and reading have improved. She proofreads everything she types and reads 75% more fluently, plus she feels connected.

Trina Doddson Comment on ISTE.org homepage poll

There’s Nothing Quite Like Reality

When children are engaged with screens, they are being passively entertained rather than actively entertaining themselves. Creativity and engagement come from the ability to interact with the world around you. These skills can’t be developed in front of a computer, television, or cell phone screen. There is simply no substitute for interacting with real people and experiencing the world without the filter of screens.

Andrea Brown Instructional Technology Specialist Getzville, New York

No 73%

Lost in Translation

A big portion of the online world is translated by someone else’s experiences. Our students need their own original physical experiences to enhance their creativity and teach them to think for themselves. If they don’t have these experiences, it stunts their ability to learn.

Shawn Kirby Media Specialist Marietta, Georgia

LETTERS

After reading Kate Conley’s editoral about personal learning networks, especially the Educators PLN site, I decided to start looking into this a little deeper. I knew I needed to get started on a PLN but was resistant. After reading through the many pages and forums on the Educators PLN, I decided it was time to get off my butt and do something about learning more about Web 2.0. I read a post by a member that stated the same thing I feel about all the new technology: When do you fit it in to your life? I found that many were using the Educators PLN, and that encouraged me to sign up.

I thank Kate Conley and ISTE for keeping me informed about PLNs and finally showing me a place that I can find what I need without having to hunt all over the Internet.