Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Ed. Tech. 1: My Children in a World of Technology
It is amazing to watch my four and seven year-old children and see how technology is a natural part of their lives. They approach new sources of technology without hesitation. My four year-old can, without assistance, turn on the computer, go to the pbskids.org website, and navigate the site without giving it a second thought. My seven year-old can use a digital camera, send a text message on her dad's cell phone, and operate our home entertainment system with ease. The most amazing thing is that they learn how to do these things on their own! They are so accustomed to seeing and using various forms of technology that it has become just a way of life. When I was a child the word "digital" meant nothing. No computers, no cell phones, no DVD or even a VCR for that matter. There were no scanners at the grocery store or Wal-Mart and no wireless anything. "New technology" to my children doesn't really mean "new" to them, it just means something different that they will quickly learn to understand and use. As adults we see new technology as a replacement for something we have always done a different way. Children have no basis for change, so they naturally accept new technology as the basis for their method of operating. It is interesting to think about how my children will be learning in the years to come, both in and out of the classroom!
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It shocks me how easily my 2 year old son adapts to technology. He can turn on, navigate, and launch an app on my husband's iphone. Yesterday he told me, "this is your ipod NOT your phone." While it is good he is comfortable with technology, I cringe when he wants to play a game or watch a video on the phone. I want him to play with his toys and use his imagination rather than use technology all of the time. I'm trying to find the balance. I wonder if my objections come from growing up in such a different environment.
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