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Subject: Re: education and computers
Posted By: Geoff Fletcher
Date: April 04, 2000 at 16:04:17
In Response to: Re: education and computers - posted by Yalda Nikoomanesh on April 04, 2000 at 12:11:17

Regarding safety, let's also use a little common sense. Some friends built a pool in their back yard. Their child had not yet learned to swim. She was taught never, ever to go inside the pool fence unless a responsible adult was present. As she learned to swim, she was taught additional safety rules, but she was gradually given more freedom as she demonstrated her responsibility and skills and knowledge about safety and swimming. While the analogy isn't perfect, it seems to me parents and other adults need to monitor their child's activities and behavior. With technology we have tools to help us with this as well.

Dr. Brody raises some important topics. While parents may acknowledge their role as supervisors of their childrens internet/computer use, do *they* possess adequate knowledge and skills to feel secure enough in this job?

> Furthermore, is it practical, given all the demands placed on contemporary family life, that parents will be constant monitors of children's computer use? If not, what can be done to educate parents on how to build appropriate family guidelines for responsible, safe and educational use?

> > I heard Jane Healy ( author of Failure to Connect) speak over the weekend and validate many of my concerns about Computers and Education. Valuable ed resources are being used to unfortunately engage kids with gimmicks, not learning. There is no proof other than the wonderful commercials we see that place Halos around these machines that hey are positive for ed.
> > Certainly for younger kids it's ridiculous that parents are preyed on to feel guilty that their kids at 5 cant download. Who knows if even the computer skills learned today will be relavant in 2 years.Kids this age need to write with crayons and pencils. They should physically feel the paper and smell the colors.Spread sheets and research on the net are great if a school has the teachers to train kids( maybe above 9) in their use. I have seen too many closed cartons where the computers were not even removed.
> > A word about safety. This week end I also spoke to a consultant Pediatrician to The Center for Missing and Exploited Children and he says Internet problems are becoming their biggest issue.Computers for children(below 11) should be in a visible place and only operated with a parent present.When I grew up the first rule I was taught was DONT TALK TO STRANGERS. This still appliea in the Digital Age. Dr.Michael Brody
> > American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

>
>

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* Comments: > Regarding safety, let's also use a little common sense. Some friends built a pool in their back yard. Their child had not yet learned to swim. She was taught never, ever to go inside the pool fence unless a responsible adult was present. As she learned to swim, she was taught additional safety rules, but she was gradually given more freedom as she demonstrated her responsibility and skills and knowledge about safety and swimming. While the analogy isn't perfect, it seems to me parents and other adults need to monitor their child's activities and behavior. With technology we have tools to help us with this as well. > Dr. Brody raises some important topics. While parents may acknowledge their role as supervisors of their childrens internet/computer use, do they possess adequate knowledge and skills to feel secure enough in this job? > > Furthermore, is it practical, given all the demands placed on contemporary family life, that parents will be constant monitors of children's computer use? If not, what can be done to educate parents on how to build appropriate family guidelines for responsible, safe and educational use? > > > I heard Jane Healy ( author of Failure to Connect) speak over the weekend and validate many of my concerns about Computers and Education. Valuable ed resources are being used to unfortunately engage kids with gimmicks, not learning. There is no proof other than the wonderful commercials we see that place Halos around these machines that hey are positive for ed. > > > Certainly for younger kids it's ridiculous that parents are preyed on to feel guilty that their kids at 5 cant download. Who knows if even the computer skills learned today will be relavant in 2 years.Kids this age need to write with crayons and pencils. They should physically feel the paper and smell the colors.Spread sheets and research on the net are great if a school has the teachers to train kids( maybe above 9) in their use. I have seen too many closed cartons where the computers were not even removed. > > > A word about safety. This week end I also spoke to a consultant Pediatrician to The Center for Missing and Exploited Children and he says Internet problems are becoming their biggest issue.Computers for children(below 11) should be in a visible place and only operated with a parent present.When I grew up the first rule I was taught was DONT TALK TO STRANGERS. This still appliea in the Digital Age. Dr.Michael Brody > > > American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry > > > > > >